Atronachs can make anyone better.

Hello everyone. This is just a quick one-shot with a male Imperial champion and a Flame Atronach pairing from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. I know what everyone is thinking, why Oblivion and why a Flame Atronach of all things. Well the answer is simply, I find the Flame Atronachs on Oblivion to be a little better looking than Skyrim (my opinion) and why not a Flame Atronach? They look female and it's something I haven't read yet so I figured why not start something? Not everything has to be about the normal characters, try and think outside the box. XD I might write one in Skyrim if this one goes well. I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters copyright of Bethesda. When is number 6 coming Bethesda?

Key to dialogue:

'Thought'

"Mind speech"

"Normal Speech"

Rellius walked into Frostcraig Spire completely worn out. He had just gotten back from finding the Draconian Madstone from Pale Pass and now wanted to just sleep or try too.. Ever since helping Martin defeat Mehrunes Dagon and witnessing the Aspect of Akatosh he hasn't been sleeping well. It had been his task by the Emperor to re-light the Dragonfires and keep the Empire safe. A task that seems to be done, but in his mind he failed. Martin was gone, the fires still unlit and no more of the Septim bloodline left to take the throne. Rellius not only failed in his duty to the Emperor, but he had also lost a great many friends in his travels. Baurus and Jauffre had died during the battle for Bruma, Modryn Oreyn was killed by some Blackwood survivors during a contract, Mazoga the Orc was killed when she ran into an ambush by Black Brugo's men that weren't around when they fought, and to make things worse the Priory of the Nine was attacked by Daedra before he could close the gate near it. Every one of his knights was killed and the Priory destroyed, Sir Thedret survived but finally succumbed to his wounds after informing Rellius.

That was the first time he saw Daedra run away from him. As soon as he stepped through the gate the slaughtering began. Caitiffs, Kynreeves, Valkynaz, Clannfears, Scamps, Atronachs, Daedroths it didn't matter, he killed them all. When he stepped to the tower covered head to toe in Daedra blood and with a blank expression the Dremora were literally stepping on each other trying to get away from him as he just walked towards them. He left a trail of bodies from the Priory straight to the Oblivion tower that day. When it was found out what he did he was hailed as "the only man Daedra feared", but to him it didn't matter. His knights were avenged, but his Priory was gone; its tombs desecrated, its chapel destroyed and every item he had stored there was gone as well.

Every time he closed his eyes he saw them. Everyone he called friend, trained with, fought next to and told stories with was in his dreams. He could hear their words and they cut deep. 'Why did you fail? How could you fail? It was a simple task, one that you couldn't accomplish.' He didn't know to deal with it except drink, but there was no alcohol in the tower and the nearest tavern was in Bruma and he wasn't in the mood for a long trek back. His familiar was watching him from the library.

Flare just sat there watching her master limp in. She was a Flame Atronach with burnished black boots, thigh pads, gauntlets, chest armor and mask. The top of her head was waving about as if she had hair that was caught in a breeze. She wanted to help him, but with no mouth all she could do was watch. He summoned her so he did have a connection with her, but she never did try to speak to him through it as it could lead to him being frightened enough to dismiss her back to Oblivion and that wasn't something she wanted. Well there's a first time for everything. "Do you need some help master?"

Rellius froze and looked around. Something spoke to him but he couldn't identify from where. 'Intruder? No, the Atronachs would've stopped anyone from coming in. Daedric Prince then?' He thought warily. 'No, that voice was too feminine. Only Azura and Nocturnal could pull that off, but they haven't spoke to me in a while so where?' He noticed Flare get up and walk to him. "Everything's fine Flare. I'm just tired." He said in a tired voice.

"I know master."She spoke to him and his eyes went wide. "It was I who said that."

Was he hearing things or did she just talk to him? This never happened before. He honestly didn't know if he should be confused or scared, but it was too late to think and he was too tired so he just let it slide. "You just never did that before."

"I was unsure how you would feel about it master. I did not mean to startle you."Flare said with her head lowered a bit. "Would you like some help reaching your quarters?"

"You don't have to do that Flare, besides you can call me Rellius, not master. I'm no one's master." He said with a slight grimace. He legs were going to give way any minute and it was paining him more to stand up with his Imperial Dragon armor on. "Some help would be appreciated though."

"Yes master."She replied as he shook his head with a small smile. As she placed her arm around his back and a hand on his chest to keep him steady he was confused. 'I thought she would burn me to a crisp if she touched me. She has everyone else; including that drunk in Chorrol that thought she was an elf and wanted to take her behind the building. No magic was going to fix that hand, or his face. I know she has pointed ears but come on she's on fire for Talos sake.'

As soon as the stepped on the platform to Rellius's room he removed his armor to reveal his common pants and shirt underneath. Flare just made sure he wouldn't fall before he got to the bed. "Goodnight Flare." He spoke before he fell asleep.

"Goodnight master."She replied before settling into the Oblivion garden in the adjoining room. It was Chill's turn to watch and the Frost Atronach was outside doing his duty. Flare watched Rellius for a while before the Daedra fell into a trancelike state that passed for sleep.

Flare awoke a few hours later when a disturbing thought crossed her mind. She sensed her master's distress and rushed over to see him crying. She was confused until he bolted upright with a loud yell. She immediately sent a mental note to the other two Atronachs in the tower to disregard the yell. If she didn't they would come barging up and disturb him even more. He was breathing heavily and sweating even in the cold mountain air.

Rellius woke up sweating and breathing hard. What started out as a peaceful dream turned into a nightmare fast. He was enjoying an evening meal in the Priory when everyone started dying. The scene then changed to the fighter's guild and then the knight's lodge. He saw them all die but he was frozen and unable to move. When he saw them stand up with a zombified appearance he tried to move but couldn't. They started accusing him of failing while he continuously repeated he tried or he didn't fail tears started coming to his eyes. When one of them latched their fingers around him and started to bite him he woke up screaming.

"Is everything alright master? Why are you wet and breathing hard?"Her thoughts then took a nose dive. "You-You're not dying are you?!"She said while thinking frantically.

"I'm fine Flare, just fine." He said, but even he didn't believe it. Just thinking about the friends he lost made him lose his will to continue.

"Master, you are not fine. Please tell me what troubles you. I can go and hunt down whoever has done this to you." She responded threateningly. Whoever had caused this for her master she would kill without mercy.

"No one has done this Flare. It was a dream." He attempted to calm her down. The temperature in the room was spiking and she getting hotter as she got angrier. "Well a nightmare actually."

This seemed to calm her down but only slightly. "A nightmare master?"That was a foreign word to her. Daedra don't dream, they go into a trance that allows them to recharge.

"It's when you are asleep and your mind is placing random memories into your head in weird ways." He explained. (I'm not a dream expert so sue me)

'So the enemy was his mind then.' She thought. She knew that this was an enemy she couldn't fight. "Can you describe this "dream" master?"

As he explained his dream to her, something told her that she should help him. It was like a fleeting thought that crossed her mind but she didn't know how. When he had taken her to a city she had seen many people interact in different ways, but she never understood why. At the time he tried to explain the various ways people interacted but it never caught on with her. Her instincts, though took control of her actions and she wrapped her arms around him neck and held him.

"That's what happened." He finished with a few tears leaking. Just talking about it brought up that same feeling of failure he had. He was about to start weeping again until he felt a pair of fire arms encircle him and the feeling of fire tingling his skin as he was pulled close to Flare. At first he thought he would combust, but instead he only felt a tingling sensation. It felt like a soothing flame that warmed travelers on a cold night. It felt right to him and he never wanted it to end.

Flare was stunned that she did this but she felt better when he didn't show any sign of rejection. If anything he seemed to enjoy it a lot, so she simply tested that his bed wouldn't burn before climbing in with him and lying down. She simply held him close and gave him reassuring words that she was there. When he had calmed down she was about to get up but something made her stay. She didn't know what but it told her to stay there. When she obliged the feeling she was wondering what was happening. She flared up and almost set the room ablaze when she felt his lips land on the side of her mask. She remembered seeing other do it in towns and remembered he called it a kiss and she likened it to other Daedra attempting to show affection. 'Master just…kissed me. W-Why did he and.' She paused. 'Why did it feel alright?'

Rellius was laughing when she got fired up from that. He didn't really know why he did that but it was fun to see her embarrassed like that but the laughter died when she didn't respond at all. "Hey Flare are you alright?"

'I-I don't know what to say master. Are….are you trying to…' She couldn't finish the statement. She did like her master like any other familiar, but she always felt like she wanted more. She never missed the chance to travel with him and she always felt the connected to him on a certain level but did she actually want to be courted by him?

"I was trying to thank you Flare." He said but then his heart clenched when she grew cold a little.

'Oh….I see…..' She felt her heat fade a little. He was just thanking her, nothing more. So why did she feel down? 'So you weren't trying to court me.' She said with sadness in her tone. Did he not feel that she was worthy of him?

"Courting you? Is that what you thought I was doing?" He asked.

'Yes master. I thought that you were starting to court me but I guess I was mistaken.' She spoke sadly and before she knew it she was pouring her emotions out. 'I know I'm not your race or even your species but I always felt that maybe I had impressed you enough. That maybe you might see me as an equal and more than a friend. Even at first when you first summoned me I barely tolerated you, and you still took me to different places and we fought together. You always spoke to me like I was an equal and not some Daedric abomination. My opinion of you changed and eventually I felt like I wanted more from you. I-I just had hoped that maybe you would.' She finished as she placed her head on his chest and tried to hide.

Rellius was extremely confused and yet the more he thought on it, the more it all made sense. All the times she visibly brightened whenever he asked her to travel with him, the times that she would always go to him whenever she was lonely or being harassed by guards, or the times when females would flirt with him. When that gang of female thieves attempted to sweet talk him in the bar she nearly lost it and toasted them on the spot. She got the opportunity later at the farm and there weren't any ashes left to sweep up afterwards. "I didn't know you felt like this Flare."

She nodded still trying to hide her head in his chest. 'I'm sorry I brought this up master. Please don't be angry with me. I didn't mean too.'

He couldn't stand to see her like this. He felt like crap at the moment and he had good reason to. She wasn't that different from any other women; save for the fact that she was made of fire and ash. She still had feelings and emotions like everyone else and she did have a nice personality when you got to know her. Would he attempt to appease her though was the question. "Suppose I tried would you accept it?"

Flare's head immediately perked up as she responded. 'In a heartbeat.'

There was that answer and he knew that he had to try now. He had gotten her hopes up and to crush them now would be too cruel to her. So he took the plunge. "I don't know how this goes or if it will even work, but I am willing to give it a go but promise me it will stay between us."

As soon as he heard that she jumped on top of him. 'I promise….Rellius.'

And so began Rellius's new weird relationship with a Daedra.

-300 years later-

Rellius looked back on the memory with a smile as he stood on an Oblivion tower. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly from that point on. He died almost 300 years ago in old age and Flare took him to her place of Oblivion. No more nightmares troubled him after that and he made peace with his life as Flare wrapped her arms around him from behind. 'Come back to bed my love. It's getting…..cold without you.' Rellius just shook his head at her and smiled as she led him back into their tower. Rellius had found his peace 300 years ago and he hasn't looked back since.

Whew that was a long one-shot. I know some people might get upset with the chosen pairing but remember its fanfiction, so imagination rules. This is really just a story that wouldn't leave my head when I first got Oblivion in 2010. I hope you all like it and remember the poll for A New Beginning ends at midnight tonight so get those last votes in. Both votes and pm's are accepted as long as you only vote once. Chapter 10 will be posted sometime tomorrow, presumably in the afternoon. So until then my good readers!