Personal Guard - Eudorus x (Fem)Shy Reader (requested)
Troy (2004) oneshot
Requested by @valoraxx
“ Hi! I’ve never seen anyone who has written for Troy before, so this is really cool! If it’s no inconvenience, could you maybe write a Eudorus x shy!reader (gender neutral or female) who tends to hide their face in their hands when embarrassed/flustered. If not I completely understand. Please and thank you! 💕”
Of course <3 and i am so sorry this took me so long! I had the wip sitting in my drafts for a while but hope the final result is worth the wait.
Word Count 2.100 words
Warnings: Reader is the eldest sister of Patroclus, some of my own headcanons for how the political situation of the myrmidons could go in the canon of the movie, where Achilles isn’t considered a prince.
Summary: After an altercate with a man planning to force you into marriage Achilles doesn’t want to leave you alone during his next travel and for so his best friend is entrusted with your safety. His devoted loyalty to your family makes him a perfect option, but some of his decorum displays towards you show more than just his loyalty.
Notes: I would want to apologise again for how long it took me to release this. I’m very sorry for the delay, but also very happy with the result because i enjoyed writing this fluffy thing <3
Tags: @mysticaldeanvoidhorse @helie-brain
The original royal house in the land of the myrmidons was almost extinguished, yet your small family unity would never stop being a target of attack for the mycenaeans. Achilles was a child when they took control of the region, which meant that you didn’t get to witness much of your uncle’s reign and your little brother only heard the legends. After Peleus died and your parents after him, your already strong bond got only stronger as you became to each other all you had left. Where your enemies would see a broken family, an ancient bloodline fallen in disgrace, you three found a home.
Achilles was, of course, the most remarkable fraction of it. Everyone in the country knew of him, of his incredible war feats as a mercenary, but very few people cared for what he did in his life outside of the battlefield. Patroclus would usually get upset about that, but you weren’t complaining because you didn’t crave adventure. The simple routine of your life in Phthia was enough, you were way too shy for great palaces and you certainly had no interest in seeing your cousin’s famous altercations with the mycenaean king. Waiting to hear the stories Achilles would bring back home was sufficient to experience a bit of thrill.
From all the omissions in his legend, the one affecting you the most was how unaware the rest of Greece was about how serious your cousin took his role as head of the house. Responsibility was more your thing, but he was very protective of you and Patroclus. The arrival of a new mycenaean functionary sent to mind the business of their central power provided an alarming example of that. To the blissful news that you were an unmarried woman, the last in the old local bloodline, the fool began to manifest very quickly a clear interest in courting you that was obviously of a political nature. Probably instigated by the teachings of his king, he intended to perform an act of power that could be perceived as legitimate in the most rebel region of the empire. It was about stripping the majority of people, who were still loyal to Achilles, from any hope.
Just like Agamemnon usually did and later regretted, his man underestimated all of you. It was obvious that his plan was waiting until Achilles’s next absence for war so he could be free to do his will. He thought Patroclus would be an easily frightened kid who wouldn’t have a say and he confused your shyness with submissiveness, assuming he would have no obstacles to force you into marriage while your cousin would be away. Yet, for that, he would have needed to hold on and survive among you. Patroclus ruined every single one of his so affirmed well intentioned courtship attempts while your cousin terrified him to a breaking point and he wasn’t alone in that. Eudorus, his best friend in life and right hand man in battle, defended you with an impressive ferocity that astonished the mycenaeans. When one of them mockfully accused him of guarding you like if you would be his wife, he said that you were his princess and he would die for you if that would be needed.
It got you so flustered, face hidden between your hands on a pointless attempt of dissimulating it while your intended suitor got humiliated through your reaction. That coward mycenaean noble fled back to his homeland fearing for his life, but the episode left quite a few revelations on hold. Achilles came out of it more wary regarding your safety when he wasn’t around, but Patroclus found out you had a crush and certain suspicions about it being required.
The men of the family opted for taking a choice behind your back that wouldn’t be communicated until being strictly necessary. It wasn’t their style, but they were trying to kill two birds with one stone. While Achilles was concerned for your safety during his long absences, Patroclus wanted to figure out what was going on between you and their friend. In a morning like any other, your cousin brought the topic while you were just finishing serving breakfast.
“ I will be leaving soon, Agamemnon is preparing something big. You know I hate that pig of a king, but I’m not giving away my chances to win glory to any other. “ He was explaining to you in particular precisely as you were just sitting, you both being under the attentive surveillance of Patroclus. “ After what happened, I don’t feel good leaving you alone with the kid.”
Before you could get a moment to react, your brother was already presenting an objection to his approach on the problem.
“ Are you suggesting I am not good enough to protect my own sister?”
“ You have done well so far, but you are too young to deal with some situations. “ Achilles corrected. “ That’s why I am asking Eudorus to stay here until I get back.”
Surprise made you almost choke with your food.
“ That’s not necessary. “ You objected once you regained the ability to speak. “ You would be punishing him if you make him stay behind while the warriors are marching… And in any case I suppose he can pass by to check on us, you don’t have to make him stay.”
“ You are right, I don’t have to … but it would make me feel better and that is enough for me.” Your cousin teased you. “ Imagine it as practice for when you will get married, you have to start getting used to the idea of feeling comfortable around other men without me.”
You looked up at the ceiling with frustration, then back at the two of them.
“ Don’t I have enough practice taking care of you?”
Achilles chuckled, his amusement proving you right, while Patroclus tried to focus on the bright side for your encouragement.
“ Then imagine you are a princess needing a personal guard.”
It turned out not to be that far from the truth, since Eudorus made it feel like that at first. His nice friendship with your brother contrasted with the formal manners he displayed around you. He resisted approaching you like a friend in favor of an attitude that made him seem like a soldier honored to guard you despite there being no reason for him to act like that. Unless, of course, that he would truly see you as someone over him. The soft yet over decorous treatment was of the kind a humble man displays for a woman he admires, but who remains up on some hierarchy.
Not feeling like that near him was difficult, even in the most mundane situations. Although unnecessary, it felt somewhat good coming from him. He was lovely, what worked excellently if Achilles truly wanted you to work in overcoming your shyness. However, the borderline worship of Eudorus did trigger it many times.
It was a never ending circle where your shyness would obtain his most gentle reactions, which would immediately cause your shy approbation. Only the disruptions of Patroclus making fun of you would create sporadic changes.
" Why don't you ever call her by her name?" He asked him on purpose once. " You do it with me."
The man wasn't sure of how to explain that.
" It's more respectful, adresses my awareness of the honor in her ancestry. "
" We have the same ancestors and you aren't calling me your lord."
" Eudorus doesn't feel as comfortable with me as he does with you. " You tried to defend him. " I belong in the domestic world and Achilles' is particularly hard to access. He is used to being near you as he is with the myrmidon soldiers, but we haven't shared much time all by ourselves. Achilles is always near when we see each other and he feels that his presence demands some formalities. It doesn't bother me, he will know when he will be ready to call me by my name. "
" Your company is a pleasure. I will get used real quick, my lady. " He thanked you. " The virtue you display working for this home should be the envy of the region. Is no wonder why i am required here. "
You gave him a shy smile, first symptom of your embarrassed reaction.
" I sincerely don't think it would happen again, but you can never argue with Achilles. I feel bad for being the cause making you stay behind while the army is marching. "
" Excellent! Turns out you understand how I feel, you just choose to ignore me. " Patroclus complained to you. " At least I can share my misery with another warrior for once. "
Eudorus didn't mind as much as Patroclus imagined he would in his place.
" I don't find this miserable, I am guarding the house of Achilles. Besides, my glory already belongs to your sister to some extent. As the only lady of the bloodline I serve, I dedicate my victories to her. "
There was no possible way for you to remain passive to such a statement, you were so flustered that you couldn't speak.
Patroclus chuckled watching your face disappear of sight between your hands.
Similar episodes kept repeating over the course of the days, but he never dared to question you about it. You guessed it was because he would perceive those as reciprocating reactions to his kindness when in fact you were feeling quite infatuated. There were times where he would lower the guard just a bit and the resemblance with a protective warrior would fully turn into the portrait of your ideal man. The divisive line between both was getting blurry because he would fill you with attention never expecting you to read those romantically, but you couldn’t help feeling that way for him. It was particularly difficult when you were alone, without your brother creating a distraction. The situation kept escalating silently, until one day he surprised you so greatly that it couldn’t be ignored anymore.
He was returning earlier than Patroclus after both promised to give you some time to take a break. Despite you said you were going to rest, he could sense the smell of fresh bread coming from the kitchen.
“ Your will is unstoppable.” He teased you in a lovely tone. “ My lady, you were supposed to dedicate the evening to yourself.”
“ I did! I took a nap and did my hair.” You defended yourself then shook your head slowly to emphasize through the movement of your long locks. “ Now I’m starting to work on our meal for tonight. “
You turned back to face him and what you found was a smiling man holding flowers looking at you as if he was enraptured.
“ I brought this because I thought it would be a nice touch for the table.” He excused himself and presented you with the gift. “ It may not be a special occasion, but it doesn’t have to be in order to add some natural beauty.”
You smiled while receiving the flowers.
“ It’s so beautiful”
“ Matches with your beauty.” He sweetly replied. “ The kings and princes my lord deals with may find you rustic, but you remain a princess in my eyes. Their women are of a cold shine, like the jewels, but I think your living, vibrant beauty resembles the flowers. “
Amazed as you were, you ended up hiding your face behind the flowers while he could still hear your flustered giggling.
“ It’s an observation that comes from my honest admiration.” He immediately attempted to correct himself. “ I’m not trying to court you, that isn’t what Achilles expects from me. Only if he would expressly consent to it, but maybe not even then I could.”
Your eyes were peeking to stare into his with curiosity, since you wondered what that was supposed to mean.
“ The most beautiful woman in the land of the myrmidons deserves better, if your uncle would still live among us you would be courted by princes. Your cousin is still well connected. Not all the kings hate him and he has some noble friends. He can arrange a better union for you. ”
“ Can’t you tell why it is so hard for me to stare at you with a straight face for long?” You asked him in return. “ You have beautiful eyes and I am not immune to your sweet devotion.”
It was clear for him that you resembled Achilles in at least one thing: the laconic phrasing. In a few words you said everything he needed to know. For so, Eudorus intended to do the same.
Before leaving to catch up with my procrastinated readings for college, I wanna make a short post telling you what’s coming. The Eudorus x Shy Reader and Paris x Warrior (fem) Reader are the next ones on the list, also the ones that I feel almost completed. I am very excited and inspired, sucks that I have to work on academical things today, but I’m gonna share a few details of these two WIPS just to make you part of my own hype.
In the first case, part of it is loosely inspired in one aspect of a Willabeth scene on the first Pirates of the Carribean film: the fixation Will used to have with avoiding to call Elizabeth by her name. As part of the plot I made the reader be the eldest sister of Patroclus and I can SO imagine Eudorus calling her a lady no matter how many times it’s insisted he can call her by her name.
in the second, I’m taking some mythology source inspiration for the reader character and she will be (loosely) inspired on Penthesilea, the amazon queen that fought on the trojan side during the war. Reader will still be a trojan woman, not an amazon, but this idea occured to me because i always thought it sucked that in the epic cycle Hector was dead by the time the amazons reached Troy. Imaging a warrior woman being battle comrades with him inmediately reminded me of this, so it stayed as an inspiration for the reader character. I think the contrast with Paris is adorable and it has chances of making everyone even more clueless about them, what I love.
