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Eyes of an Angel (Part one of two.)
"Now, Ellena, what did your grandmother tell you about playing in the swamp?" The voice that asked the question was soft and far from scolding. Every word that the young woman spoke seemed to be wrapped in love and tied with a smile. For some, such a caring tone would be reserved for only those dearest to them, but for Jessica it just came naturally. For her, every being - human or animal, living or dead - was precious.
That didn't make the child who sat before her any less nervous, the petite girl biting her lip and hanging her head forward so that her chestnut bangs partially hid her face. Far shorter than Jessica's own locks, they were also quite a bit darker and did an admirable job of casting the girl's face into sullen shadow. "She... she saids ta always make sure ta wash my hands afore I ate, 'cause I could get disee... dizel... I could get sick." Speaking more to the floor than to Jessica and struggling a bit with the wording her grandmother had used, the girl of only seven years - eight at most - couldn't help but feel a pang of loss at just the thought of her dear grams, who had stepped through the veil just one year past.
Jessica had never met the elder woman. She had perhaps seen her around the village, but they'd never spoken, at least not before that very day. In life, the girl's grandmother, Eileen, had shown Jessica no more love nor trust than any other member of their small community, but within the hour since Ellena's mother had brought her feverish daughter to Jessica for help, Eileen had told her numerous stories about the girl and all the mischief the curious child had gotten herself mixed up in throughout her few years. Neither Ellena nor her mother had ever given any names, it had been Eileen who'd provided them, along with the knowledge of how to cure the fever.
"But da says that they're just old wifeses tales."
Jessica grinned at the girl's mispronunciation, responding lightly even as she mixed herbs with her mortar and pestle. "Well, how do you think those wives got to be so old?" She stressed her use of the proper word, hoping to subtly correct the child. She waited long enough for Ellena to give a slight shrug before answering her own question. "By listening to good advice and growing in wisdom, of course."
She paused to pour the contents of her mortar into a small leather pouch of her own making, then set both of them down on the small oaken counter which served as her workbench. Picking the kettle up from its place atop the cast iron stove, she poured some of its contents into a wooden mug. The water was warm but not boiling, which was exactly how she wanted it. She'd actually put it on before the mother and daughter had even arrived, forewarned of their coming by Eileen, who'd explained both the problem and solution before the knock had even come at the door.
Jessica took two pinches of the herbal mix and dropped them into the half-full mug, then stirred it with a spoon before turning back to the girl. Jessica crouched down in front of her, then reached out a delicate hand to gently lift the child's head with a single finger beneath the chin. "Don't be sad, Ellena, your grandmother still watches over you and still loves you very much." She gave the girl a brilliant smile; one which the child couldn't help but return, albeit shyly. "Now drink up. It won't taste very good, but it will make you all better."
Ellena wasn't happy about the thought of drinking bad-tasting medicine, but what medicine actually tasted good, anyway? Taking the mug from Jessica's hand to hold it in both of her own, the girl made a face at murky mixture before letting out a heavy sigh. With her mother looking on in an amalgam of hope and suspicion, the child drank down the bitter tea. The face she'd made before draining the mug wasn't even a fraction of the one which followed it and Jessica broke out into a light laughter. "Pretty awful, isn't it?" She asked sympathetically as she took the mug back and set it on the table. "I can get you some juice to wash the taste away. Just let me-"
"That's quite alright." The mother cut in sharply, moving forward to take Ellena's arm in her hand and guide her up to stand. "We'll be on our way now. How much do I owe you?"
Jessica blinked, a little surprised by the sudden change of direction in the conversation, as well as the offer of money. She never really charged for her services. She grew her own fruits and vegetables on her small plot of land, sewed her own clothes and had few other needs to tend to. Money just wasn't really an issue to her; she helped people because it was the right thing to do. Still, the subject always seemed to come up with the villagers. "Oh... well, nothing, really. Just make sure she takes the medicine twice a day for the next two days. She should feel fine by tomorrow but make sure she takes all four doses. There will also be some left over in case you ever need it again."
"Thank you." The woman's tone held no gratitude despite the words, although there was a lot of relief. She was happy to know that her daughter would be fine but distrusting of the method; less so of the one who'd administered it. A few coins were set on the table, regardless of Jessica's objection, before she took the pouch full of herbs. The woman didn't want to feel like she was left owing Jessica anything, a sentiment shared among most of the villagers. They'd rather pay for a free service than be indebted to the local "witch".
Jessica nodded mutely, knowing that attempting to refuse the payment would only cause further problems. She'd long-since learned to accept their distrust as simple misunderstanding. She took no offense to it, she was just glad that she could help. Instead she simply trailed after the mother and daughter as they made their way to the door, if only to make sure the door was shut behind them.
It was while the mother had paused to open the door, however, that Ellena looked back over her shoulder, smiling brightly despite the bad taste lingering on her tongue. "Thanks! I like your hair!" It was a heartfelt gratitude, one that was for more than simply providing the herbal remedy, and a compliment of the most random variety - completely honest, but the kind that only the youngest at heart would blurt out. It warmed Jessica to her very core, yet she didn't even have time to respond before the mother had departed, dragging the child with her in haste.
Shutting the door, Jessica sighed softly, yet still smiled. It was saddening that so many in the village held misgivings towards her but one open heart was worth a hundred thousand that were closed. It was those few that ensured she had the strength to continue.
"Don't worry, child. They will learn one day. Much as I have." Even had anyone else still been in the room with her, the voice still would have gone unheard by any ears save her own. It was the voice of Eileen, the elderly woman's spirit lingering after her grand-daughter's departure. "Thank you ever so much."
The sincerity of her words were accepted with modesty from the young brunette, still in her nineteenth year yet already worldly in her wisdom, though she would surely disagree on that point. "All I did was mix the herbs as you told me. Without your knowledge..." Her voice trailed off, not really wanted to contemplate just how badly Ellena might have suffered in the illness.
"She might have died, yes. But my knowledge would have been useless if you weren't able to hear it, child, and also willing to act upon it." The older woman's form - virtually transparent yet simultaneously crystal clear to Jessica's eyes - shook her head slowly, sadly. "And to think that we called you 'the dark child' when all I can see in you now is the light. Wise I may have been, but also a fool. You have my deepest apologies, my dear."
"It's not your fault, you just didn't understand. I'm... different." Jessica sat down on the same chair which had been occupied by Ellena just a few minutes before, head hung in much the same way as the girl's had been. In Jessica's case, however, it was in bashfulness. "Besides, I never heard you say anything about me."
"And does that make it any less wrong?" Eilleen's question was rhetorical and Jessica left it unanswered. There was no need to voice what they both knew. "Now then, I must be off. Ellena may still be sick but the girl has a gift for getting into trouble as great as any I've ever seen!" Flashing a wry grin, the spirit-woman moved for the door herself, though she had no need to open it and simply passed through the wood as easily as she did air.
Left to herself, though never truly alone, Jessica stood and moved to the table to clean up. Around her were other spirits, of course, as they drifted and danced around her as they did each and every person, but they were ephemeral and quixotic in their nature. Animal spirits and elementals, entities which would often be dubbed "fae" by the villagers, they were ever entertaining, but not much for conversation. They were the "nothing" which cats chased through the grass and dogs barked at in the moonlight; they were the unseen hands which guided flocks of birds to form fluid, transient patterns in the sky before returning to the same perch from which they'd come and the source of the random giggles of a newborn babe.
They were everywhere, yet seen by none except for the very young. Animals seemed to retain their sensitivity to the ethereal beings, but humans quickly left them behind, letting rationale erase them from their sight. Perhaps, Jessica had to wonder, the reason she had retained such vision was simply because she had refused to let go of it. Her father had died in war when she was just a babe, yet he remained at her side, watching over her in her earlier years and offering advise as she grew. Nothing could convince her to let him go - he was her father and they loved each other dearly.
Her mother, like everyone else, tried to convince her that such ghosts were not real and just the workings of her imagination, at least at first. Yet Jessica knew things about her father that she could never have known, that only her mother herself could have told her. It didn't take long to convince her that Jessica's gift was real and to accept it as a boon. Others in the village were not so willing to accept.
Jessica was only just barely into her teenaged years when her mother was murdered, protecting her daughter against a man who had declared her to be a witch and demon-possessed. Killing her mother had been entirely accidental, but while the others in the village agreed with his sentiment he was still punished for the crime. It was a light sentence - only three years in prison - but he had felt honest guilt for his actions and had moved north to the capital with his family upon his release. Jessica herself never held any hate for the man, although her mother was not so kind. He had left Jessica an orphan and her mother's spirit refused to abandon her child.
For the next four and a half years Jessica was raised by a pair of ghosts, her parents reunited at last. They taught her how to cook and sew and take care of herself. They taught her the rudiments of herbalism, what her mother knew from keeping her child healthy and what her father knew from tending wounds on the battlefield. The older she grew the more spirits came to visit her, to share their tales and knowledge, to tell her the needs of others that they would not admit themselves. When she began giving healing salves to villagers both free of charge and without even being asked, they began to wonder and then to talk. They would use her salves and medicines, if only out of desperation, but any gratitude was quickly twisted into cynical wariness. They couldn't accept that she did it simply because she cared and they couldn't fathom the means by which she knew to do it in the first place.
Eventually, once she had reached womanhood, her parents finally let go of their earthly ties and moved on to the true afterlife. Their job had been completed at last and she happily bid them farewell as they departed. She missed them at times but knew they loved her still and knew that she would see them again when the time was right. Until then she had a great many other spirits to keep her company and share their knowledge. She was able to use that knowledge to help the other villagers and had even traveled to the neighbouring towns when the spirits asked it of her. She had a good life, a full one... and yet she knew that there was still something missing, though she couldn't have said what. There was still a thread which had yet to be woven into the tapestry of her life and she sensed - knew beyond a shadow of a doubt - that it would soon be revealed. She could never have imagined the form which that missing thread would take.
The skies were clear that next morning and with the summer sun already well on its way towards its zenith, Jessica had decided to venture out into the woods surrounding the village and collect some of the herbs which grew wild there. Her supply wasn't really that low and it normally would have been at least a few more days before she would've found it necessary to make the trek into the wilderness, but something told her that it needed to be done. Curious compulsion aside, she really couldn't have asked for a better day for it.
Dressed in typical garb for the pleasantly warm weather, she wore a lightweight skirt and blouse, both dyed a sky blue. It was one of her favourite hues as it matched her eyes, though she loved all of the colours of nature. The cooler colours were her preference when it came to clothing; reds, yellows and such tended to attract attention and were a little too bold to suit her, but blues, greens and browns made her feel more a part of the world around her. A wide-brimmed, straw hat served to keep the sun out of her eyes as well as help control the long brown locks of hair which danced on the morning breeze and a pair of simple, leather sandals completed her outfit. The woven-straw basket she carried, its scant weight hanging from her right forearm, was empty for the moment but it would be full to overflowing by the time she returned.
In truth her clothes were little different than that of anyone else in the village, yet still she stood out among them. Passing the various houses between her home and the forest, many paused in their daily tasks to watch her in silence, their hushed voices trading comments as soon as they thought her out of earshot. They underestimated her hearing, but she honestly wasn't bothered by it. They theorized that perhaps she was a witch but then... perhaps she was. If they believed a witch to be someone who spoke to the spirits, someone who could traverse the forest without disturbing the animals, then she would certainly fit the description. So long as they were at least willing to accept her medical help for their ailments she didn't really care what they called her.
Jessica could have found her way to the forest blind-folded and would've known the instant she was there. It wasn't the feel of the ground or the brush of vegetation against her skirt that was the giveaway, but rather the smell. The forest smelled more pure and primal than the village, even though they were practically bordering each other. Five steps into the woods and she stopped to take in a deep breath, letting the ancient power of the forest fill her. It was both intoxicating and soothing at the same time.
With a smile on her face, Jessica wandered deeper into the woods, pausing to examine any plant or moss that caught her eye. Even fungi was worth collecting for her medicines. Most of the villagers would surely scoff at the thought of toadstools or other growths being used for healing, but she'd learned their usefulness from the spirits and their value had been proven through success. Within half an hour her basket was three-quarters full and carried in her hand to prevent the handle from digging into the soft, lightly-tanned skin of her arm.
Around her the forest went on about its daily business; squirrels, rabbits and birds paying her no mind at all. It was as though she were as much a part of the wood as they themselves and they knew that she wouldn't harm them. The spiritual entities that danced among the ages-old trees - indeed, some of the intangible essences were parts of the trees themselves - paid more attention to her, but they did so politely. She giggled as one, appearing (for the moment) to be some sort of cross between a chipmunk and a hummingbird, hovered over her basket to inspect the contents before chirping and fluttering off. They were always curious of the activities of humans, finding that much of the time they made no sense, at least to the spirits.
It was perhaps five minutes later, as she knelt to inspect a plant to see if its roots were ready for harvesting, that she noticed something entirely unusual. The forest had gone silent. Not just on the physical plane, but on the spiritual as well. No birds sang, no animals chattered, no spirits danced around her. They all seemed to be frozen in time, with only the soft breeze and swaying branches at the treetops to prove it wasn't so. Still, the entire forest seemed to be holding its collective breath, waiting.
Jessica stood, leaving her basket on the ground, and looked around in confusion. She immediately wished she hadn't, for no sooner had she stood than the tremendous sound of thunder rumbled through her, nearly deafening in its volume. Her body tingled, as though she had been standing right next to a bolt of lightning, and her heart began to beat more quickly. There was a power in the air unlike anything she'd ever felt before and it dropped her back to her knees. Hand coming to her chest as she tried to catch her breath, she was only vaguely aware that her hat had fallen off and lay on the ground beside her. Her eyes stared at the ground, her head spinning from the sheer power that washed over her, but a moment later it had cleared and suddenly she felt better than she ever had in her life. All because of a single touch.
The finger which hooked under her chin, lifting her gaze from the ground in much the same tender manner with which she had lifted Ellena's, was wrapped in a silken white fabric that was softer than anything she'd ever felt. The gentle, wonderful feeling which filled her at that simple touch, however, could not compare to the sight which greeted her raised vision. She had seen the majesty of the stag and power of the wolf. She'd seen the sun set and the moon rise. She'd seen stars fall from the sky and trees that reached up to touch it. She'd never seen anything so beautiful as the man who crouched before her.
Clad head to toe in that same white fabric, his lithe body was all smooth lines. The silky cloth of his robe, seemed to cling to his frame, a powerful but elegant strength laying just beneath its pristine surface. His hands and arms were entirely covered, fully sheathed as though it were a second skin, and archaic, mystical designs were embroidered into the sleeves. The only flesh revealed by the robe was the face and neck, where the small flares of his collar opened up to expose alabaster skin that seemed impervious to the touch of the sun. Even his hair was such a pale blonde as to be nearly white, platinum locks even longer than her own floating on the breeze behind him. Most of his sunlit hair flowed out behind him, kept in check by the silver circlet which rested on his brow, though even that metallic halo couldn't contain it all and wisps snuck out to fall before his face; a single braid ensured that the left side was unhidden and allowed her to look into brilliantly blue eyes. Even if all that had not been enough to convince her that she truly looked upon an angel come to earth, the dove-like wings which sprouted from his back were the undeniable guarantee.
He smiled at her and she could feel his love as surely as she could feel the sun on her skin, warming her and encouraging her. When he spoke it was like a sun-shower, gentle and refreshing; promising a rainbow before it was gone, yet simultaneously foretelling of a horrible storm on the horizon. "Hello, Jessica, I am Gabriel. I've waited a long time to meet you." She just stared at him, speechless, as his fingers lifted to brush some of her errant hair behind her ear. "I have a task for you; a mission which must fall to you to complete. This kingdom is about to go to war with its northern neighbour, much as it did three years past. The last time, the two armies fought to a draw, but if your countrymen march northward now they will be utterly destroyed. Should that happen their army will invade, but in their fervor they will not conquer. This kingdom will perish in the fires of war. Everyone you have ever known... will die. This... is what I have foreseen."
Gazing directly into her eyes, his words burned with their conviction. He spoke the truth and she knew it beyond any possible doubt. She shuddered at the thought of her entire village being put to the torch; villages across their small kingdom being slaughtered mercilessly. It was enough to move her to tears, but his next words stilled them before they could fall as he showed her the rainbow of hope he had wordlessly pledged. "You are the only one who can change this fate. This, too, I have foreseen, though I am unable to descry the manner by which you can accomplish it. You must deduce that for yourself."
Gabriel stood, drawing away from her and she desperately wanted to follow after him even though she knew she could not. He smiled down at her, confident that she would find a way to save her homeland from destruction. "The two armies will meet four days hence. Good luck to you, Jessica. I will be watching."
There was a bright light which grew out from him until it filled her vision before suddenly vanishing and leaving her alone in the hushed forest. For a moment she stared at the spot where Gabriel had stood only seconds before but she quickly snapped herself out of her awe. She had been given a task and she knew the consequences of failure. Forcing herself to her feet, she turned herself back towards the village and broke into a run, moving as quickly as the uneven terrain would allow. Her basket and hat were left behind in her haste, unimportant to her after the revelation she'd been granted; two simple items made from straw, marking the spot where an angel had stood.
The capital city, the king's castle sitting at its heart, was only a day away by horseback, but it would have taken her much too long to walk. She knew that if the battle was to occur in four days then the army would leave within two. That meant that she needed a horse, despite having nowhere near the money necessary to purchase one and she could never bring herself to simply steal one.
Still, she managed to come to an agreement with the local innkeeper to acquire one of his horses. If she did not return in a week, with the horse healthy, then he would gain ownership of her home. In truth, she saw little to lose from the deal, for she knew that should she fail her house would burn as well. The arrangement made and her house key left in his care as a sign of good faith, she had quickly departed the village and set out on the road. She brought only minimal food for her journey and didn't take the time to change her clothing despite the general difficulty of riding in a skirt. She simply hiked it up and held fast to the reins.
She rode the horse hard, keeping it at a gallop and only stopping for brief rests to let it drink from streams. They kept up the rapid pace throughout the afternoon and evening, forgoing sleep as they rode on into the night. She hated treating the creature so poorly but felt she had little choice if she wanted to reach the capital by dawn. In the end, though the chestnut mare had done her best, she simply couldn't keep up the pace any longer and Jessica let it walk the last two hours of travel. When they finally walked through the main gates to the capital, the streets were already bustling with people, the dawn a full hour past.
Guiding the mare - whose name she'd never even learned - to the first stables she found, Jessica dismounted and took the small coinpurse from her waist. She handed it to the stableboy, simply placing the whole pouch into his hand. "Give her the best you have. She's more than earned it."
The stableboy's eyes lit up at just the weight of the purse. It wasn't an excessive amount, yet still more than he made in an average day. "Aye, m'lady! I'll treat 'er like a queen!"
Jessica returned his smile and handed him the reins before turning to wrap her arms around the horse's neck in a firm embrace. "Thank you. Rest now and be well." She stepped back from the horse then turned away, her eyes seeking out the castle parapets where they towered above the city. The main road would take her straight to the castle and, while it was crowded, she managed to navigate it with relative ease.
It would have seemed strange, had she taken pause to think about it, but no one stopped to stare at her there. There were a couple of appreciative glances as she hurried past but no gawking... no suspicion. She was just another pretty girl, rushing about her business. She would have enjoyed that feeling of normalcy had she but the time to notice it.
Hasty steps brought her to the castle relatively quickly, though she had to stop at the gates to the castle's courtyard. Four guards stood there and at first she worried that she'd need to convince them to let her through or offer some kind of password, but they merely inspected her to ensure she was unarmed before allowing her entry. They also - although it seemed more for the sake of their own curiosity - asked her what her business was within the castle. Perhaps they had expected her to be the daughter or representative of some merchant seeking to contact the Minister of Trade and Revenue or maybe she had come seeking her husband among the guards' barracks. They certainly didn't expect the answer they received, confusion and doubt showing clearly in their faces. "I must speak with the king and warn him of the coming war."
She'd spoken quite frankly, the explanation raising the brows of the two guards nearest her, while one of the others simply shook his head. It wasn't that they didn't believe her, it was just that only those of significant station or military rank ever got to speak with King Suthwen. Like all the kingdom's peasantry, Jessica had never seen the king nor even known anyone who had. She didn't know the harsh, cruel man who sat upon the throne. Still, it was not their place to tell her otherwise, nor prevent her access to the grounds. Others of higher rank stood guard at the entrances to the private wings of the castle, who would not let her pass. "Good luck with that, lady." One of the guards grunted out the response, then motioned with his head for her to continue on.
There was another guard, however, whose curiosity had not been satisfied. He was not one of the four assigned to protect the gate that day, nor were any of that quartet even aware of his presence. Although he stood beside them, faithfully watching over the castle's entrance as he had for many, many years, only Jessica could see or hear him as he inquired further about her purpose. "And why would ye be seekin' to speak to his Royal Highness, child." The old soldier's ghost asked of her, his stance rigid as he watched her through narrowed eyes. "What business do ye have that he might be interested in?"
"I bring warning, sir. The enemy lay in wait, seeking to ambush our army. I must warn him or all will be lost!" Jessica's blue eyes gazed directly at the shadowy grey image of the long-dead guard, surprising even the spirit with her awareness of his presence, for he had not truly expected any sort of response. While the four living guards cast concerned glances at each other, watching as she spoke to an empty space between them, the spirit peered into those sky blue orbs and judged the sincerity of her claim. It took him only a moment to deem her both honest and trustworthy. She was seeking to protect his kinsmen and he would certainly aid her in that endeavour.
"When ye reach the inner guards, tell them that ye're the king's agent with news from the front. The word they will seek from ye is 'patriarch'." He spoke slowly, adding weight to his every word so that she would remember it clearly. His next instruction, though, struck her as odd. "Do not deliver this information to King Suthwen. Seek out Commander Ashlein. It is he who most needs to hear it and will be more likely to listen."
Jessica nodded, having listened to his advice carefully. "Thank you, sir. I will do that." Offering the spirit a smile of gratitude, she set off once again, leaving the guards behind her to question the sanity of the woman they'd just granted access to. They had to expect that she'd be finding herself in the dungeon before long, certain that the royal guards would deny her entry.
The royal guards did challenge her, taking aggressive stances as soon as she approached, but with the knowledge of the dead Jessica presented herself properly and left them with no choice but to allow her access to the inner court. It was surprising to them, as their king had never shown any use for women beyond menial tasks and his own sexual pleasure, but they also knew better than to delay one of his agents. They hesitated only long enough to make sure she was unarmed, frisking her in a quick and respectful manner before unlocking and opening the doors to allow her passage. One remained in place while the other stepped through with her to announce her entry in a bellowing voice. "An agent of the King, with news from the front!"
Shutting and locking the doors behind her as another pair of guards just inside the door eyed her cautiously, Jessica found herself in a large and opulent room,. Perhaps fifty feet long and thirty feet wide, it had a marble floor which was split down the middle by a lush, red carpet that was surely more expensive than the entire wealth of her village could have possibly afforded. Rich tapestries filled with brilliant colours and displaying old tales of heroism hung on the walls between narrow, arched windows which reached over ten feet in height. Two enormous chandeliers hung from the ceiling, hundreds of crystalline shards of glass dangling from their golden frames while unlit, white candles adorned their tops. Off to her left was a grand staircase, manned by another pair of guards while directly ahead of her, at the far end of the carpet and perched upon a dias, were the royal thrones.
The king's throne was easily twice as large as that of the queen's and also of much more recent construction. While the queen's was elegantly beautiful, its wooden form decorated in gold and ivory, the king's was almost gaudy in its excessive grandeur. A large sun sculpted from pure gold adorned its back and it was studded with a multitude of large gems. It even sat higher than the queen's throne, requiring a step to reach its fur-laden seat.
Such extravagance held no importance to Jessica, however, and her steps never faltered as she walked swiftly down the carpeted aisle. There, standing before the thrones, was a small cluster of people, all their eyes focused upon the woman approaching them. None of them seemed particularly glad to see her, least so the king himself. Sitting upon his throne, he glared down her, the first to speak. "Who in the blazes is this wench and why does she sully my throne room?"
The others with her - all male except for the queen - seemed to be wondering the same. The king had no female agents within his employ and would never entrust a woman to bear information to him. Even his queen, as lovely and intelligent a woman as she was, was nothing more than a trophy to him. She alone seemed more worried than angered at the intrusion, knowing his reaction would not be a good one. Even the few ghostly entities who resided within the room looked upon her with irritation and mistrust, knowing that she did not belong there.
Commander Ashlein was as easy to pick out of the small crowd as the king himself. He carried himself with the bearing of authority and discipline. He wore a uniform similar in style to that of the royal guards but with the additional accouterments of his rank; a silver sash and golden epaulets marked him as the supreme commander of the kingdom's military might. Beside him were a pair of the king's ministers, his two personal servants and the Commander's own aide, who was the youngest of those present. It was the latter who stepped up to block Jessica's path, his hand coming to rest on the pommels of both his sword and dagger. He had anger in his eyes and she could tell in an instant that he would draw and cut her down without a second thought. He was of roughly the same age as she, yet where she was filled with love, he overflowed with hate.
She came to a sudden halt when he intercepted her, gasping at the look in his eyes before forcing herself to turn her gaze towards the Commander. It was he whom she'd been told to deliver her message and although the king would obviously hear it as well, she needed Ashlein to both hear and see the truth in her words. "Commander Ashlein, I have been sent to give you warning." She spoke quickly, not certain how long they would give her to say her piece. "If you march your army northward it will be destroyed and the whole of our land will follow soon after. You must not go to war!"
"Preposterous!" Suthwen's retort came instantly, the king rising to stand before his throne. "Utter nonsense! Our forces will obliterate them!"
The king's enthusiastic assurances aside, Ashlein met Jessica's gaze evenly as he tried to get a read on her. She seemed entirely serious and he couldn't deny that he had his own misgivings about the impending campaign, but to say that they would be slaughtered seemed insanity. At worst they would be forced to disengage so that each nation could rest and lick its wounds, much as had occurred three years prior. "How is it that you knew the codeword to gain access to this room?" He watched her intently as he asked the question, his grim face revealing nothing of the thoughts swirling within his mind. He wanted to gauge her response; it was unlike anything he could have expected.
"I learned it from the ghost of one of your guards. He- I think he died a long time ago, but he still stands guard at the castle gates. He said I needed to give the message to you." Jessica bit her lip, feeling a little nervous with all the harsh eyes glaring at her. Suspicion and disdain were nothing new to her but there was such hatred in the room that she felt her life was honestly in danger. Even the spirits cast dubious glances at each other, wondering if she were mad. There was one, though, who cocked his head slightly to one side, examining her every bit as intently as Commander Ashlein did.
"A... ghost... told you?" Ashlein asked the question hesitantly, a brow lifting upwards. It was utterly absurd, a fact which was voiced by one of the ministers, but she seemed so sure of it herself. Perhaps she was telling the truth, at least as she knew it. Perhaps she was just being played for a fool by some agent of their enemy, duped into believing the nonsense she spouted. "And this 'ghost' of yours, was he the one who told you that our army would be destroyed if we marched tomorrow?"
"No, it wasn't him, it-" She was distracted from her response as the spirit that had been watching her so keenly suddenly approached her, closing the gap between them in two quick strides. It seemed that he would have grabbed her by the shoulders had he been able to touch her and she sucked in a startled breath at the intensity of his gaze. There was a physical resemblance between the ethereal man's face and that of the Commander, a relationship that was confirmed as the spirit began to speak.
"I am Christopher Ashlein, the Commander's son. You can see me? You can hear me?" His questions were asked with a desperation and she merely nodded in response, eyes glancing between the dead son and the living father. "Then you have another message to deliver to him. Mine."
Unsure of what else she should do, she mutely agreed to serve as his mouthpiece, her gaze returning to the Commander. To those watching her she had been staring at nothing, peering at an empty space to her right, but the words she relayed struck the Commander to his core. "Christopher is here. He's stayed at your side, even after his death." She swallowed, watching the older man's face drain of colour. His aide seemed even more infuriated than before.
"Silence, dark child!" The youth's shout echoed throughout the throne room, his sword-hand leaping out to snatch the front of her blouse in his fist. Jessica's heart raced in the face of all that loathing, shocked by his use of the title given to her by the people of her village. She couldn't fathom how he had come to know it and he seemed to take some sort of twisted pleasure from her confusion. "Yes, dark child, I know you. She claims to talk to the specters of the dead." He directed his last words at those behind him, turning his head just slightly so that his voice would carry to them better. "She is a thing of evil! Afflicted with the most unholy of madness!"
Jessica tried to pull away from the youth but his grip was like steel; he would not relinquish his hold on her. "No! They're not evil! It was an angel that sent me here, told me that you must be warned!" She pleaded with them, once again focusing on the Commander. Of all that stood there, he alone seemed to have ears to hear her verity. "Gabriel said that if you went to war now, they would kill everyone and set the whole kingdom ablaze! All those people will die. You must not attack them!"
"Demons, more like it!" The youth growled at her, but he was cut off before he could speak more as the king stepped forward, giving a derisive snort.
"Nonsense. You're either possessed by the minions of hell or simply mad. Either way, I've had enough of this idiocy. You are obviously attempting to mislead us. Probably trying to buy more time so that they can prepare their defenses." He raised his hand in a casual signal and the guards standing at the base of the stairway set into motion. "Guards, take this pathetic traitor to the dungeon."
With the guards approaching and already helpless in the young swordsman's grasp, Jessica felt tears welling up in her eyes. In desperation, she drove her attention back to the Commander, Christopher insisting that he was her only hope... and that of the kingdom as well. "Christopher's been trying to talk to you in your dreams. You've seen him there, haven't you? He's been trying to reach you! He says you shouldn't blame them, shouldn't seek revenge for his death. The man who killed him died on that same field of battle. There is no one to take vengeance on!"
The Commander said nothing, nor did he so much as flinch, but she could tell that he was listening; his heart was telling him to believe her even though his mind said it was impossible. She pressed on, not knowing what else she could do. "He's here, Commander! I can hear him; I can see him."
"Then it's the last thing you'll ever see, witch!" The youth drew his dagger, raising it up with every intention to drive its tip through her wide open eye. She couldn't look away from it; couldn't even blink. The blow never came, though, and it wasn't because he didn't want to deliver it, nor was it prevented by Ashlein. Surprisingly, the voice that commanded him to cease his action was that of the king himself.
"Hold!" His voice bellowed in a tone of absolute authority. "I will not have blood spilled within my throne room!" It wasn't because of some measure of generosity or mercy that he'd prevented her maiming but simply the monarch's concern for the expense of his carpeting. Jessica found herself horrified that he could care so little for human life and so much for material wealth. Had they been out in the street, she knew without a doubt that he would have simply watched the spectacle, enjoying every moment of it.
A wicked grin spread across his visage and she knew in that instant that if there truly were demons walking the earth, she was looking upon one of the most evil. "I do believe that young Gregory has the right idea, though." He looked at Jessica and she felt a shiver go through her but he stayed well back from her. Even looking upon such a peasant was beneath his dignity; he certainly wasn't going to touch one.
He leaned over and spoke something to one of his personal servants who departed in haste even as the royal guards took her arms firmly in their grasp. Turning his back on her, Suthwen began to walk towards a third exit, behind the thrones along the left wall. It was the least impressive of the doorways and most commonly used by servants but there were times when the king found it a useful shortcut to one of his favourite places: the dungeons.
Without a word the guards knew to follow him and began dragging Jessica with them. Gregory hesitantly released his grip on her shirt, but the guards' grips were so tight as to bruise her soft skin. She didn't resist, there was no point, yet they still treated her roughly. It was how the king preferred it. Commander Ashlein and Gregory followed after them stiffly, as did the spirit of Christopher, but none of them spoke. There was little to say. Even Jessica seemed resigned to her fate, accepting that she might very well be facing a summary execution or, at best, living out the rest of her days in a dungeon cell. King Suthwen had nothing so generous in mind.
He led them into the dungeons but not to any of the cells. After several minutes of walking and descending stairs, he stopped in front of an ordinary-looking wooden door. There they only had to wait a short time before the servant reappeared, carrying the cherry wood box that Suthwen had bade him procure. The king seemed entirely pleased, which only worried Jessica that much more.
Around them spirits raged, the ghosts of all those that had died within that dungeon crowding into the hallway to shout curses at the king that went unheard by all ears except Jessica's. She paid little mind to the vehement words of hatred, though; Suthwen's voice was the only one that mattered, the despot king casually explaining the horror of what he was about to do. "Venoms are a most amazing thing and something of a hobby of mine. They come from any number of animals and each has different effects."
The servant held up the box, holding the lid open while Suthwen selected a glass bottle from within it. The vial was small, only two inches in height and he held it easily between his thumb and forefinger. "Some paralyze while others make you horribly ill. There are still others, of course, which simply kill its victim, even in small quantities." As Suthwen stepped towards her the two guards forced her to her knees, one of them grabbing a fistful of her hair and bending her head back until she looked at the ceiling. Christopher tried with everything he had to strike the king, but his efforts were entirely in vain. There was nothing that any of the dead could do and nothing that the living were willing to do.
"This particular venom is usually spat by a certain type of snake. It's known to cause blindness even with only minimal contact." Coming to loom over Jessica, Suthwen grinned down at her and pulled the cork from the bottle. A piece of wood jutted out from the underside of the cork, just the right length to reach nearly to the bottom of the bottle. As he held the cork over her eyes, a malicious smile plastered on his face, she could hear the anticipation in his voice. The eagerness. And then a drop fell from the saturated wood, plummeting into her eye. A second drop fell into her other eye and even though she'd closed her lids, her eyes burned as though they were on fire. "Oh yes, and I'm told that it's really quite painful. What do you think?"
Her response came in the form of a scream so full of sorrow that even Gregory could not bear to watch her suffering. Hearing it was bad enough. He was not cruel, after all, he simply wanted vengeance; justice, as he saw it. Suthwen, though... he watched her agony with a growing sense of glee until her voice turned hoarse and his amusement waned. He had already returned the bottle to its place in the box and sent the servant away to return it to its place and now he had other matters to attend to. "Take her to The Hole. A slow death will give her time to reconsider this foolishness about seeing ghosts before she joins their ranks."
King Suthwen returned up the corridor, Commander Ashlein and Gregory in tow while the two guards opened the door and dragged the barely conscious girl through it. The ghosts were silent in the dungeon and even Jessica's ears could only hear the sound of the door slamming shut behind them.
Eyes of an Angel - Part 1 of 2 by TreyosWatch
©2007-2017 Treyos
Ah well... here's part one of what has been an absolute obsession of mine for the past couple weeks. Every chance I get I've been working on it. Part one is 14 pages at 12pt. Hopefully, it's an enjoyable read, though I obviously stopped it at a rather crucial moment. Don't worry! I've actually got another seven pages already written.
Aaaaaaaaaanyway! Enough babbling! Here's the info!
This short story is absolutely and entirely inspired/based upon 's breath-takingly awesome painting Gabriel. Go favourite it. You know you want to!
You can find her original story concept there as well, though I've taken some creative liberties with what she had. She's the only one who's got the right to bitch about those changes, though any constructive criticism is, as always, happily accepted. Hope you like what you've seen so far (especially Natsuki, of course)!
Jessica, Gabriel and their story copyright of ~Natsuki-3.
All other characters and the actual telling of story is copyright me.
Edit: It's been added. You can find it here. [link] Enjoy!
Edit 2: The second part of Eyes of an Angel is still linked, but will no longer be available for viewing here, as it's going to be published by Pants On Fire Press! I apologize to those who were looking forward to seeing the rest of the story and I hope that you can share in my excitement that it will soon be an illustrated book, with artwork by the incomparable Natsuki-3.
Pants On Fire Press can be found at [link] or at their Facebook, [link]
Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more news! I will update this notice once it hits the shelves!
Again, thank you!
Tom Brazeau
Aaaaaaaaaanyway! Enough babbling! Here's the info!
This short story is absolutely and entirely inspired/based upon 's breath-takingly awesome painting Gabriel. Go favourite it. You know you want to!
You can find her original story concept there as well, though I've taken some creative liberties with what she had. She's the only one who's got the right to bitch about those changes, though any constructive criticism is, as always, happily accepted. Hope you like what you've seen so far (especially Natsuki, of course)!
Jessica, Gabriel and their story copyright of ~Natsuki-3.
All other characters and the actual telling of story is copyright me.
Edit 2: The second part of Eyes of an Angel is still linked, but will no longer be available for viewing here, as it's going to be published by Pants On Fire Press! I apologize to those who were looking forward to seeing the rest of the story and I hope that you can share in my excitement that it will soon be an illustrated book, with artwork by the incomparable Natsuki-3.
Pants On Fire Press can be found at [link] or at their Facebook, [link]
Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more news! I will update this notice once it hits the shelves!
Again, thank you!
Tom Brazeau
Beautiful! Excellent work, sir! I'm loving it so far--and such a cliffhanger! I'll definitely be getting the published work when it's available! ^_____^
Thank you for the kind words! Great to hear you've enjoyed it so far. I can't wait to be able to show off the book! I've still got a long wait ahead of me, though. Damn.
Yeah, it was great! Very captivating, and the king is so easy to hate. I certainly hope he gets what's coming to him! The scene where Gabriel first shows up was so cool--you really captured that moment perfectly. It's exactly how I would expect an encounter with an angel to be!
How long before the book will be published? Pretty long, I suppose, especially for the new artwork to be completed.
How long before the book will be published? Pretty long, I suppose, especially for the new artwork to be completed.
The publisher is hoping for September, but definitely before the holiday season (because that would be great for sales). Natsuki's already hard at work with new art... and it's looking fantastic! I can't wait to see it all come together.
That's awesome! I can't wait to see the finished product! How many illustrations is she doing for the book?
I think that there's going to be about fifteen, though I'm not sure all will be full paintings. Might have some more simple illustrations, too.
Wow, that's great! I can't wait to see how it turns out. Do you know what the dimensions of the book will be? I'm hoping pretty large, so the images are nice and big.
I am thoroughly honoured to have inspired you like that! Thank you for your very kind comment!
Impressive writing
Both of these are simply stunning! A while back I saw a picture too and all my senses went blank, then I cried, then I had this BURNING feeling of writing a book about it ^^ Seriously, it was like my insides was on fire but in a good way.
Aaaanyway. If I could write a critique I would give you 5 stars on everything, I envy the way you write.
Aaaanyway. If I could write a critique I would give you 5 stars on everything, I envy the way you write.
I know the feeling. When I saw her art, I had to write something for it. Don't think I've ever written something so good, so quickly in my life. It was like I couldn't get the words onto the page fast enough!
Thanks for the support and faves, they're very much appreciated!
Thanks for the support and faves, they're very much appreciated!
I see you
Lol, sorry. What I meant was that I get it totally.
Right now I'm writing on a story but I'm stuck, you've inspired me a little though.. Maybe this will help me.
Lol, sorry. What I meant was that I get it totally.
Right now I'm writing on a story but I'm stuck, you've inspired me a little though.. Maybe this will help me.
You can never believe how cruel some people seem to be...
D8> Oh no! Must read the next part! *rushes off*
PS: Beautifully written, btw!
PS: Beautifully written, btw!
Both parts of this are very well written. Thanks for sharing it.
OMG I spent like two hours reading just this! You should write a book! This is so wonderful. MAKE MORE! MAKE MOOORREE PWEASE!!
Well, technically I have written a book (Maelstrom), I just haven't found anyone to publish it yet. I would really love to turn "Eyes" into an illustrated storybook full of *Natsuki-3's beautiful artwork, but she hasn't had time to make much more art for it lately, unfortunately. One day!
Anyway, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! I appreciate it!
Anyway, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! I appreciate it!
That is beautiful writing. I love the description and your use of grammar was abolutly astounding. 10/10 saved to faves for ever
You shud warn people that it itsn finished how do you expect me to sleep now
Im just out of words, amazing
Im just out of words, amazing
-.-; I just wanted to scroll through this and saw my name in there (Jessica). I hate my name and the fact that the girl chained is Jessica makes me uncomfortable I would read it but it's so long DX I'd get bored fast. I'm sure it's wonderfully written though
Aw, but Jessica is a beautiful name! Why don't you like it? Of course, I'm partial to names starting with J in general, but hey.
And don't worry, she's only chained for a little while... and tortured a little. ^_^; But she's happy at the end!
And don't worry, she's only chained for a little while... and tortured a little. ^_^; But she's happy at the end!
I hate it so much (read my journal about my math class) Don't care if it's beautiful sounding XD that makes it sound way worse though DX I'm not a big fan of nudity anyway, so that's another reason why Just icky (makes my body tingle in a bad way). At least the ending is happy
Yeah, the only reason the nudity is in there is because it was in the painting. I don't generally write anything requiring nudity since I refuse to write sex scenes (bad enough they show up unnecessarily in movies and such, I'm not going to add to it).
Anywho, I only knew one Jessica growing up and I think I've only met one since. Weird that you had three others in your one class. I understand, though. My name's Tom and I've worked with or gone to school with more than a dozen other Toms... and most of them are lazy douchebags. It's embarassing to share a name with them.
Anywho, I only knew one Jessica growing up and I think I've only met one since. Weird that you had three others in your one class. I understand, though. My name's Tom and I've worked with or gone to school with more than a dozen other Toms... and most of them are lazy douchebags. It's embarassing to share a name with them.
yeah sounds embarrassing XD Most of the Jessicas were snobs; another reason I can't stand the name. I'm probably the only Jessica who isn't a jerk or full of money, lol
I came across this when you submitted it to #Realm-of-Fantasy, and I must say that I'm thrilled you sent it to us!
What a wonderful read! I can't even thing of anything negative to say about it. I move on to the next installment with much anticipation.
What a wonderful read! I can't even thing of anything negative to say about it. I move on to the next installment with much anticipation.
Thank you, that's quite a compliment! I hope you're still feeling the same once you've read the conclusion!
I absolutely did feel the same. Quite possibly one of the most amazing stories I've stumbled across on dA(and I read a lot).
Thank you very much, for the words, the faves and the watch! I don't think I've ever had a story flow so well as Eyes did so you may be starting with the pinnacle of my writing, but hopefully you'll find the rest of my work as entertaining!
you are so damn good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm imagining it in my head, and damn it, if i had contacts or whatever, i'd make this into a movie... okay, blah...
very nice work on the story... it's perfect. i can't find any faults...
i'll write some sort of constructive criricism if i find something wrong...
otherwise, GREAT JOB!!!
i'm imagining it in my head, and damn it, if i had contacts or whatever, i'd make this into a movie... okay, blah...
very nice work on the story... it's perfect. i can't find any faults...
i'll write some sort of constructive criricism if i find something wrong...
otherwise, GREAT JOB!!!
Well, thank you very much! Always great to see enthusiasm for my work and you seem very, VERY enthusiastic.
yeah... most of my friends tell me the same... i have 2 friends who are like you (writing stories and literature stuff)... and well, let's just say, ur still lucky i can't bug you for the next chapter or the next book or the next new thing they can show me...
.... oh noes! Not poison!!! *wants to read part 2*
omigosh! you are such a brlliant writer! You make me write to write more....lol Really incredible story and I truly get a sense of where I am. Epic in every way!
omigosh! you are such a brlliant writer! You make me write to write more....lol Really incredible story and I truly get a sense of where I am. Epic in every way!


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CommentsBack to Article
Contribute your own thoughts, experience, questions, and knowledge for the benefit of all MedPage Today Healthcare Professionals and Expert Patients™.Post a comment
Greg MS RPh
All you need to know about this study - The study by Jenkins' group was supported by the Canola Council of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Loblaw Companies..
Agreed, Greg , nothing I read in that article looked like a healthy diet for a diabetic.- or anyone for that matter. Get the corporate interests OUT of the medical study business, please !.
Los Altos running doc
Those are quite impressive lists of conflicts of interest!.
Yes indeed - conflicts galore. In addition "The trial included 141 people on oral medications for type 2 diabetes randomized to dietary advice on either a low-glycemic index diet with 4.5 slices of a canola oil-enriched bread daily or a whole-grain diet with 7.5 slices of whole-wheat bread." 4.5 slices of bread (less carbs) vs. 7.5 slices of bread, which would have a Triglyceride lowering effect on its own. What a waste of virtual print..

subset: commoncrawl


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1. Each evening or morning before you start your day, make a short list of your intentions (the result and feeling of something you want) for the day and by each, write the related to do's for that day. Try to keep your list to 5 intentions. Consciously choose what you will do and what you will not do. Keep a different list of what you will review for inclusion on other days.Link
2. List only what you really expect to do that day. As other things come to mind, write them on a separate list. By putting these items on a separate list, you are creating the space to be in the moment with each of your day's priorities. Review that list as you plan for the next day and determine how they fit in to your plans. Give yourself some down time, enjoy your successes at the end of the day.
3. Give yourself meaningful blocks of uninterrupted time to focus on each intention. Turn OFF technology each day during those blocks and focus on your intentions.
4. At home, be clear about what technology you'll use and where. Computer in the kitchen? Maybe not. A friend of mine just removed the computer from her kitchen and said she is now far less likely to stop to constantly check email or news. In the kitchen, she pays attention to her family and prepares food. Sometimes they do group family activities at the kitchen table. When she heads into her office to work on her computer, her children know not to disturb her while she works.


text:
Oct 5, 2012 - StaffCentral Wyoming College Quality Leader Whitney Martinez, right, used CWC basketball player Roozario Wiggins to measure lengths of raffle tickets at Thursday night's Oktoberfest CWC fundraiser at the Holiday Inn. Close to $30,000 was raised for scholarships during the CWC Foundation benefit.
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text:
MensTennisForums.com (http://www.menstennisforums.com/forumindex.php)
- Marcos Baghdatis Message Board (http://www.menstennisforums.com/533-marcos-baghdatis-message-board/)
- - Articles, News ... (http://www.menstennisforums.com/533-marcos-baghdatis-message-board/68643-articles-news.html)
Articles, News ...
Baghdatis receives hero's welcome on return
By Jean Christou
LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - Marcos Baghdatis was greeted by hundreds of cheering fans at Larnaca airport when he returned home to Cyprus following his heroics at the Australian Open.
The 20-year-old fought back the tears as he was reunited with his family for the first time since his defeat by world number one Roger Federer in the Open final on January 29.
"It's very emotional to be back," Baghdatis told the crowd.
"I'm a little overwhelmed and I'm not sure what to say. I'd like to thank all who came and everyone who followed my matches. It was a great experience for me and for our country."
Baghdatis's mother Andri was hospitalized during the final and had a gall stones operation a day later but she was well enough to greet her son, accompanied by her Lebanese husband Christos.
Mother and son hugged and kissed. Baghdatis's eight-year-old sister carried a bouquet she said was for his girlfriend.
Inside the VIP lounge Baghdatis broke down in tears.
"I want to thank my parents and all who believed in me, and the people of Cyprus," he said. "I am here because of my parents and I thank them."
The exploits of Baghdatis, from a village named 'fairytale', seized the imagination of tennis fans worldwide as he swept into the final as an unseeded outsider.
"I didn't win but I had the chance to work very hard and it was great knowing that all of the people of Cyprus were behind me," Baghdatis said.
"During the bad times when I was feeling down I would think of the sacrifices I made and the sacrifices that were made for me."
Baghdatis is a rare success story for a divided island dominated by partisan politics where sport is synonymous with football.
Baghdatis is now ranked 27th in the world, up from 54th before the Melbourne final, and is hailed at home as the greatest sportsman Cyprus has produced.
"I decided to drive down and join the welcome party to show him how much it means to us that he has come so far," said 25-year-old Anthi Stavrides from Nicosia.
The minister responsible for sport, Pefkios Georgiade, praised Baghdatis as a role model and an ambassador for his country.
"The heart of Cyprus that beat with you during your two-week titanic fight, beats today from joy, emotion and pride. In your face I see all the hope of the youth of Cyprus," he said.
Baghdatis then traveled to his home town of Limassol where he will be given the key to the city during a ceremony expected to be attended by thousands of well-wishers.
More events are scheduled in the capital Nicosia for Sunday, after a meeting between Baghdatis and President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Baghdatis will leave the island on Monday to resume training in France.
Re: Articles, News ...
thx Peggy :hug:
Re: Articles, News ...
Marcos Baghdatis aces draft
Tanya Giles
TENNIS hero Marcos Baghdatis has been granted a long-term exemption from military service in Cyprus.
The star of the Australian Open -- beaten in the final by Roger Federer -- has been told he can have extensions.
The President of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, invited Baghdatis to the Presidential Palace in Nicosia for a one-hour meeting on Sunday and assured the tennis star he personally and the state would offer him every possible help and support in his career.
A government spokesman said Baghdatis told Mr Papadopoulos of his "fervent wish to serve at the National Guard" but asked for a suspension of his military service while he forged ahead with his tennis career.
After the meeting, he thanked Mr Papadopoulos for his offer. "I want to say a big thank you for the help he is going to offer me, and the only thing I can assure is that I am always going to fight for my country with my racquet," he said.
The Herald Sun revealed last month that top politicians including Premier Steve Bracks and Energy Minister Theo Theophanous were pushing for Baghdatis to be exempt from the draft for up to 10 years.
Mr Theophanous lobbied Cyprus's High Commissioner, Achilleas Antoniades, who agreed to ask his Government to release Baghdatis from military service.
Re: Articles, News ...
Ok, I know I have already posted it somewhere else, but now that we've got an appropriate thread....
Interview from L'Equipe, Monday January 30th 2006.
L'Equipe: How do you feel after that 1st experience of a GS final?
Marcos Baghdatis: To be honest, I feel disappointed. I've had my chance and I've let it go. I've played great tennis in the first 2 sets, been very aggressive. I didn't want to let Federer have time to play. The way I've started the match is amazing. I had him and I think he wasn't ok. But at 6-5, 40-0, I loosened the grip a bit. I don't know exactly what happened. And then, I've started to think of the victory, to stress...It cost me the match. When you let Roger play, it's tough to find the solution after that! I can tell you it's not really easy. But I've battled. Finally, it doesn't matter that much.
Eq: Is it physically that you broke down?
MB: No, I think it's stress that knocked me sideways. I had resisted to Ljubicic, Nalbandian, so, I think I had the physical means. But it's mentally that I've gone out of the match. After that, everything went very fast and I just couldn't do anything.
Eq: Because it's Federer you have in front of you and he's a special opponent?...
MB: For sure he's different. He doesn't break down much! Others do before he does.
Eq: Yet, he cried after his victory. And you were standing right beside him...
MB: No doubt it must have been hard for him. It's so crazy to win a GS! I've got it! Me too, I've cried when I won tourneys. I also remember the 1st time he won Wimbledon he cried too. I was watching tv, during a futures event (3rd category) in France...and he made me cry. Roger, he's a great guy. He fights for what he is. He gives his all for his sport. And he's got a heart. The words he told me after the match show he's got respect for everybody. It's a good thing to have such a guy as N°1.
Eq: a "guy" you adopted a trick from...
MB: Yeah, when I bounce the ball between my legs before serving. Been doing it since 2002, after the AO, when I came back training in Paris. I had seen Federer do it.
Eq: Most of all, a "guy" you have driven into a corner...
MB: Right now, I can only see negative things. I can't be lucid. But it's true, I've been able to have him far from the ball sometimes, and few players can get as close as I've been. For sure this experience will be usefull to me in the future. Basically, I'm fast, I move pretty fast on the court, I got a good eye and I can see the ball pretty early. Actually, I can adapt to any style of player!
Eq: Were you aware you could reach that level when you arrived in Melbourne?
MB: A bit yes. But, if I keep on playing crazy matches like this on big courts, it can't but help me believe it more. It's true that it was hard thinking about it. But that's life. Sometimes, things just happen that way, all of a sudden. You work, you work, you work, and one day, you wake up and you're just there. I'm proud of myself, proud of my team. I think I deserve it. The funniest is that, 3 weeks ago, in Auckland, I had just lost my 1st round match, I was talking with my coach. I was telling him that if I won the AO, I'd stop tennis. And he was telling me that, in that case, he would retire. We're gonna think about it now, to know if we stop!
Eq: It's gonna be tough after such 2 weeks.
MB: I guess the best memory will be that match against Roddick. That was the greatest win of my whole career. My 1st time on the Rod Laver Arena. It was the World N°3. Emotionally, it was just fantastic! But the whole tournament has been a great dream. Now I'm waking up. I'm gonna get my feet back on the ground. I've always worked to win 1 day a GS and I'm gonna go back training.
Eq: You were 14 when you've been picked the 1st time!
MB: Yes and it was in Ouganda. So it wasn't as great as that. But that was already experience to pile up. When I look at my life, it's an extraordinary tale....DC, that's really fantastic for me. The guy I'm playing with, he's 21 and ranked around 500. He's training in Belgium. We're playing events together since we're 8. That's real fun.
Eq: At the end of the day, your parents didn't come to attend the final....
MB: No, only my brother and my cousin. First, I had told them to come. And then, I told them not to....It's my father who made the decision.
Eq: What did your coach Guillaume Peyre tell you after the final?
MB: That it really didn't matter, mostly because I was 20 and everything was only beginning. When I've started to cry in the locker rooms, he just told me "don't stop crying". That's all.
Eq: You've lived a very peculiar story with him, together for 2 years in order to be better together after a split of more than 1 year.
MB: At the clash time, we weren't heading the same directions. I had been injured for more than 4 months. And it was hard to come back. I was young, I've made mistakes. He knew me well, he knew what I was able to do, but I was feeling like he wanted to go too fast. There was too much pressure. After the USO, I told myself: he's the one who knows me the best, and he's the one I wanna work with. I called him. I didn't apologize but we talked. He's a nice guy. He's there as soon as I'm in trouble.
Eq: And God knows you've had to cope with many difficulties in your career....
MB: The 1st day at the Academy has been the hardest of all my life. I was crying all the time, every day, on the phone with my dad. I only wanted 1 thing: fly back to Cyprus, to be with my family and my friends. The 1st 3 months have been very tough. I was feeling lonely. I had no fun. But one day, you realize that it's what life is all about and that you have to cope with it. I woke up one day and told myself: Ok, now stop crying, stop complaining. You got no choice and you have to do it. Many people believe in you. I was pretty well looked after, with Patrick (Mouratoglou) and the family I was living with. I owe much to Patrick because he's been the 1st one to believe in me, when I was 13. He's always helped me. He's always been there for me. Jean-Paul (Damit, his 1st coach) has also been like a father for me. They've all given me a lot of love. And when you're 15, 16, that's precisely what you need the most. I've been through tough times in my career. So have my parents. And the people with me too. So that's why now, I feel happy on the court. I'm happy to play.
Eq: Even if you'd have preferred turning into a pro of soccer when you were a kid?
MB: I like tennis, still......I had to stop for 2 years when I was 9 and I've missed it. But it's true I'm having a blast whenever I play soccer. I could have peaked in that sport, easily. All's in the mind with sport. Luckily, I still can play a lot at the Academy, in Thiverval. We often play 6-6, against the Plaisir tennis team. That's physical! We play like 2, 3 hours a week....
Eq: Tell me about life in Thiverval, in that pretty isolated area of the Yvelines....
MB: I just love the kids who are there and who wanna get into that sport. That's the group spirit that matters. Me, I'm training very simply. You know, we do simple things. We go on the court, Guillaume stands in 1 of the corners and gets me running. But most of all, at the Academy, I just love my chalet!
Eq: Are you gonna stay and live there?
MB: Maybe I'm gonna make it bigger now (laughs). I'm gonna talk about it with Patrick. But it's nice to live at the Academy. When you wake up, breakfast's ready, you can train directly there. I also live in Avignon, with my coach, and that's great because my girlfriend lives there too (Camille's Guillaume Peyre's step-daughter). And I think that now, we're gonna go and train in Cyprus, under the sun, whenever we can. Thus, I'll be able to see my parents more. It's gonna be hot and we'll be able to hit the ball well there!
Re: Articles, News ...
I have this from a very good source that Mr Marcos will be in playing in Båstad this year after Wimbledon. It's a fun tournament and being from the coast, he will enjoy the beach and the relaxed fun feel of the tournament.
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I remembered that, some time ago, I had read something about Marcos, in our French Tennis Magazine. After some research, I've found it again, and I think that, though being a bit old, it's still very interesting to read. Hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed translating it.
From Tennis Magazine, January 2005.
So, I suddenly got scared and felt like stopping it all straight.
By Guy Barbier.
Marcos Baghdatis can't erase this day from his memory: Sunday February 14th 1999, it was Valentine's Day. And he was already missing Danae. Danae, his girlfriend, who stayed in Cyprus. And him, Marcos, had just arrived in France. He was 13 ½.
More painful, even more bitter has been the next day. That Monday of his 1st training session, coached by Jean Paul Damit, at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy, in Montreuil Sous Bois. First sufferings, first tears. "The session had been very tough. Jean Paul was yelling at me to move my ass. He'd given me some blowing up. So, I suddenly got scared and felt like stopping it all straight. I was crying when I left the court."
A thin trickle of tears before a flood, during the following weeks. It's gonna take 5 years to make them less bitter to the reminding, to legitimate them. With the Junior World Champion Title in 2003, first distinction of that sort for Cyprus. And "the joy and pride" for Marcos, "to have been able", he says, "to give back what I owed to all those who had helped me."
Marcos Baghdatis has good memory, which enforces his attaching side for those surrounding him. Yet, now that he's part of the most promising young pros, ranked 150 at only 19; how could he not remember the most teeny details of a very special progression?
For Marcos, born in Limassol, Cyprus, on June 17th 1985, all begins with his father Christos's devouring passion for tennis. It won't be Marinos, the elder brother, today aged 27. It won't be Petros, the 2nd son, 25, even if he played DC for Cyprus in 2002. And for Zina, the young adopted sister, aged only 6, one must still wait a bit...
So it's gonna be Marcos, sucked up behind his brothers by the Famagusta Tennis Club, its 8 courts, one of the 2 Clubs in Limassol. First hits with a coach, a Czech he never called otherway than Mr Paul. "I was 4 or 5. But only 1 year and a half when I'd first been given a racket."
The other Club of Limassol, the Sporting, aged 7. Other coaches: Bulgarian Kiril Yiasmakov, Romanian Jean Dobresko, Cypriot Yanos Hadjegeorgiou. With the latest, a further step is made: Marcos, 11, leaves his family in Limassol to settle down at Yanos's, 80 kms away, near the national center of Nicosy. On the world's general scale, these Cypriot movings are microscopic. Marcos Baghdatis's big migration starts though in the environment of an island, though small, but rich of multiple nationalities gathered together. Marcos has got the means to cope with every kind of situations: he's fluent in English. "I've been to the American Highschool in Limassol", he says," I've made all my studies in English, not Greek."
There won't be any communication trouble when Marcos Baghdatis gets contacted, twice in 1998, during the first international events he takes part, at the Petits As in Tarbes and the Under 14 tournament of the Stade Français, by Laurent Rizzo, the young talents ferreter of the Mouratoglou Academy, also in charge of the "agents" branch of the academy "Tennis Management".
"I had been stunned", he recalls", "by the irreproachable behaviour of that young guy on the court, but most of all, by his pleasure of playing and his joy of life. You could see that, for him, being there was some kind of a celebration." Of course, Laurent Rizzo had also noticed straight " a huge strength as well as a heavy ball, especially on his forehand, and also, an important ability to progress, openness to hard work."
That's how, after some phone calls with Christos Baghdatis, his 1st visit of the Montreuil site and a signed contract, Marcos arrives in Paris for the big adventure in February 1999. Marcos recalls " At first, my dad was with me. We were staying very close to the academy, in a 1st Class Hotel in Rosny Sous Bois. And after 1 week, he went back home."
Even though he goes and lives straight with that family, the Benhaim in Saint Maurice, with whom he gets on very well from the start, Marcos finds himself alone to face his big challenge.
It's been much harder than expected. "I was crying every night. I couldn't stop listening to Greek music, I was missing my family and my friends, and Danae too..."
After 3 weeks of this pace, Patrick Mouratoglou, the Academy director, has been the 1st to call Christos Baghdatis. "I told him his son was crying every day, that he seemed unconsolable and maybe it would be better that he goes back home. He then replied, don't worry, he's gonna stop and it's gonna be alright. Let's keep it up...."
4 more weeks were necessary to see the end of these loneliness strokes.
"The mood at the academy helped me a lot", tells Marcos, "everybody was very nice with me, there were a bunch of various nationalities, it was lively, joyful. And at the Benhaim, it was really like I was at home. They've been wonderful with me." At Laurent Benhaim's, manager of some computer graphic arts firm, successively in Saint Maurice then in Courbevoie, Marcos will stay for 4 years, sharing the bedroom with Jean Philippe, the son. The mother, Nathalie Benhaim, is considered a 2nd mother. "I used to tell her everything. Even about my girlfriend", tells Marcos. "We were talking and sharing everything when we were all together." Smiling, Marcos also remembers how once he's been blown up by Nathalie Benhaim. "I had given her my clothes far too late and I had a plane to catch on the next day."
The other main integration factor of Marcos was his French practising. On-the-job learning ("it was hard to find English teachers") and now a fluent practise. Even if Marcos, who dropped out school, aged 15, would like "to have some more lessons, in order to write and read it better."
Marcos's progression and well-being at the aademy have known only 1 obstacle, but which could have put a definite end to it all: his relations with Bob Brett. The famous Australian coach, who formerly worked with Boris Becker, was associated to Patrick Mouratoglou, between September 1998 and April 2003. "Bob had started deciding everything and everything was going wrong. Most of all, he didn't like me, he didn't trust me. And I had told him I didn't want to work with him. Of course, this, coming from a young guy like me, hasn't pleased him. I've started to look for where else I could go."
It was all the more pityful that Marcos was beginning to emerge. After missing very closely the Junior World title in 2002 (to Richard Gasquet's benefit), Baghdatis had just won the Junior AO title in January 2003.
"Luckily", he underlines, " Patrick fired Bob in April and everything went back to order."
This 2003 season has been the one when he won 4 "futures" events (3rd category of the tour), among them 1 in Cyprus, in front of his parents. And, last but not least, the Junior World Champion title.
Thanking all those who helped him, Marcos doesn't forget precising that, without Cyprus Federation financial support, including entire covering of his trips as well as his coach's, and without Patrick Mouratoglou's personally paying for all training fees, he would never have been able to do it, his parents just couldn't afford any of this.
"I like team sports and here", he says, showing the new installations of the academy, settled up since July 2004 in Thiverval Grignon, in the Yvelines, "it's a team, even more, a family. My title has made everybody happy." On the very 1st place, the one who was coaching him, Guillaume Peyre, as well as his physical trainer, Emmanuel Yague.
A first season among the pro tour which gave birth to some short movie, showed on Eurosport, "The Rookie", but which has badly started, because of some pubalgia which handicaped him for 4 months. But it ended on a very good note with 2 successes in a row, at the Bolton (UK) and Bratislava (Slovakia) challengers, Bratislava where he beat local hero Dominik Hrbaty in the final. Without forgetting about his strongest emotion of the year: his 2nd round match in Flushing Meadow on Arthur Ashe Stadium in which he took 1 set to Roger Federer in person.
What is he dreaming about? Winning a GS ("the USO, my favourite one, first") and.....DC for Cyprus (playing 3rd category!). Marcos has made his debuts in DC aged 14, being one of the youngest participants of all time. "I believe in it", he claims," as soon as we have a 2nd player, it's gonna be possible."
Just to fulfill his own dreams and go beyond the craziest ones of Christos Baghdatis...
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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Choupi again. :sad:
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Choupiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii thank you so so so much :hug:
I'll rep u as soon as the "you must spread" thing goes away :smooch:
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Excellent translation as always Choupi.
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Baghdatis will play in Halle this year. :)
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:wavey: Marcos is training in France with his coach, Guillaume, before going to the United States. 02/24/06
03/10 Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells (USA), $3,169,000.
03/22 Nasqaq 100 Open, Miami (USA), $3,450,000.
Between the 7th and the 9th, First Round in the Davis Cup against Bulgaria.That's in April.
From Marcos Baghdatis website:http://www.baghdatis.com/index.php?o...emid=4&lang=en
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Let's hope he'll have some good matches there :)
Pame :yeah:
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There is a brief interview with Marcos at this site. He just doesn't say that much, just about his 1st MS event and how his life has changed etc.
You have to register, but it doesn't cost anything.
Re: Articles, News ...
From the PacificOpen site. Interview of Marcos after his win over Gaudio:
An interview with: MARCOS BAGHDATIS
M.BAGHDATIS/G. Gaudio
6-7, 6-3, 6-2
An interview with:
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Marcos.
Q. Do you consider that a good win out there today?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: A great win. It was tough out there. Gaudio was playing great tennis, so it was tough. I fought for it. Second and third set, I started playing better in important points. I think that's what made the difference.
Q. Is this as good as you felt since Australia?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Not as good. But, I mean, is a great victory. You cannot play every day your best tennis. The most important thing is that I found the solution to win. I'm very happy about that.
Q. At the end, he looked demoralized. Do you think you really closed him out?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. You have to ask him.
I played my tennis. That's all. I mean, I played good. In the last two sets, I played solid tennis. I'm very happy.
Q. How much has your life changed since Australia?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Oh, a lot. I mean, I'm more famous. When you're famous, your life changes (smiling).
Q. How has that been to deal with so far?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Okay, because I have a great team around me that helps me deal with it okay. For the moment, everything going well.
Q. Have you changed at all? Do you feel different?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Feel different, no. I don't think I'll change because, like I said, I have a great team around me that keeps me who I am, just makes me shut up if I go with a big head (smiling).
I don't feel like I change.
Q. How about changing on the court?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: On the court, no, no.
Q. Confidence?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: A bit of confidence, but I had confidence even before. I mean, you cannot go to a final without confidence, of a Grand Slam. I think the confidence I had before in me.
Q. Before when you played as the underdog, there were no real expectations. Now because you've reached a Grand Slam, people are looking at you with expectations.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: They're waiting something from me. I feel that.
Q. Does that put pressure on you?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, it's more pressure. But for the moment, I deal with it okay. Like I said, I mean, it's just the whole team thing. My team around me, they help me for everything. They help me to keep the same, to go to the matches the same way and keep my routines, my old routines.
So really I don't feel so much the pressure.
Q. Sitting with your coach, I notice there's a huge relationship between you. You look at him and you seem to really feed off him and the crowd.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, he helps me a lot. It's really nice to have somebody that you feel like best friend or a brother to you, that gives you so much confidence and so much will to win every point and be there every time, not to give up.
He's a great fighter, so I respect him a lot. He's a bit not my idol, but he's somebody that I respect a lot. So sometimes I play for him. To win a match, sometimes I do it for him. It helps me a lot.
Q. Your parents didn't come to watch you in Australia. Will they come?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. I don't think so, no.
Q. When you talk about your team, who is in your team?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: My coach, girlfriend, parents, the academy, my manager. Big team (smiling).
Q. Can you tell us how you prepared for this tournament, how much rest you've had since Australia?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: After Australia, I mean, I played in Marseille. I was a bit tired. I had pain a bit on the ankle. I lost to Mario. I went to Rotterdam. I got injured there. I said that's enough, maybe I have to stop. That's what I did.
I took like four or five days off, then I start practicing physically. Had a week and a half for physical, then I came here one week before or five days before. I played some practice matches. That's how I prepared. Nothing special.
Q. What was the injury?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Just the groin, ischio.
Q. Do you feel more famous now, more recognizable?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah.
Q. Is that more fun than being overlooked a bit?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No. Sometimes you don't have your personal life, so sometimes is not so much fun. But that's life. I mean, I will not start crying about it.
Q. Do you play Berdych next?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes.
Q. Have you played him before?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't think so. I don't remember. Maybe in Juniors, but I don't know. I don't think so.
Q. He's the same age as you, isn't he?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes.
Q. Are you looking forward to that match?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Of course, like every match.
Re: Articles, News ...
After the Berdych match.
An interview with: MARCOS BAGHDATIS
M. BAGHDATIS/T. Berdych
6-4, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Marcos.
Q. The guy who beat Hewitt; you must feel pretty good?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Today in tennis, everybody can beat everybody. Every match the same. I take it the same. I played really good today. I served a lot of breakpoints. I was playing really good important points, so I'm very happy that I went through easily in the second.
Q. What happened with your eye?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Like an insect went into my eye. That's all. Like a thing went into my eye. I was, like, couldn't open my eye. The doctor, he put me some liquid in my eye, then we took it out.
Q. He had a lot of breakpoint chances. Didn't make many of them.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Didn't make any of them (smiling).
Q. Was that the big difference in the match?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, like I said, I was playing well in important points. I was serving really good. He didn't take his chances. So that helped me a bit. Then second set, I just played better than him, I can say.
I mean, I went through a great victory today, so I'm very happy.
Q. In a period after you got to the Australian final, did you at some point while you were resting and relaxing think how you were going to keep it going? Did you come up with a plan for what you were going to do?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Think about? Yeah, of course, I did. It's normal thinking. When you think, it helps you stay focused and stay in your objectives. So, yeah, I can say that I thought about it, yeah.
Q. What did you think? What was your game plan to basically back up your Australian performance?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Just play my tennis. Just continue working hard, especially working hard working on my physical because I know that my game is based on my physical. So that's what I work on.
Q. Do you take offense when people in the American press refer you to as "Baggy" and the "Bag Man"? Or are those names that you value?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. I just play tennis. That's my job. That's what I like to do.
Q. After reaching a Grand Slam final, everything that happened to you, it would be easy to go down. You must be very pleased with the way you've come here to this event?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Maybe it's easy to go up there, but it's not easy to stay up there. I think that's where the champions -- that's where you see the champions. For the moment, I'm dealing with it well. I want to continue this way. I want to continue work hard and continue to work hard and have fun in it.
I think if I do that, if God wants, I'll stay up there.
Q. Is it important, do you think, to keep Australia in your mind or is it important to try and put that to one side? It was such a great adventure.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: It depends. I mean, Australia, you cannot forget it and you cannot take it out for me because it was amazing emotions, amazing moments for me, and it was my first time.
But, like I said, I am dealing with it well for the moment. My team around me helps me a lot. I work with great people that keep me confident, keep me willing to work hard, don't miss a match, try to fight in every match.
Q. Do you sense when you walk into the locker room now that people look at you with different eyes?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, players are nice to me. They were nice to me before. No.
Q. You are 6-0 against top 10 players. Berdych is up and down. What is the difference between the two of you?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: What do you mean, what is the difference?
Q. You've had very good results against top 10 players. Berdych has been up and down. Why would you say that is?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't really know. I don't know what Berdych does. I don't really know what wins he had.
But he's a great player. I'm a great player, too. We're the same age. I think we play great tennis, both of us. Like I said, tennis is a tough sport. You have to be there every day and fight every day. Not a lot of people can do that.
Q. Getting back to the Australian Open, halfway through the Australian Open and beyond, the feeling was you saved this year's Australian Open.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I saved?
Q. You saved it.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: What do you mean I saved it (smiling)?
Q. It was starting to get, with big withdrawals or losses, you were like a breath of fresh air.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: That's good.
Q. Would you have considered that?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No.
Q. How do you compare this court speed to the Australian Open?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: In Melbourne, first of all, the atmosphere is different. The weather is different. The court's a bit faster. The ball jumps a bit higher. That's all. A bit faster.
Q. What is your preference?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't mind. I mean, I play good here. I play good in Australia. Maybe next year I'll go to Australia, I'll lose first round. Nobody knows. I don't know. That's life. I have to accept it. Everybody does.
Q. I don't know if you've had time to make friends with Marat Safin.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Not really.
Q. Do you think that his comeback is a big story around the locker room? Are people excited he's back? Players tend to like him.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: You know, I wasn't in the circuit for long, so I don't know what the players were discussing about or the atmosphere. I cannot answer that question. I mean, I'm not there for long. It's my first Masters Series. I don't really know what's going in there. I don't know.
Q. A lot of people were asking you what was happening at home during Australia. What's going on now? Are people trying to get your matches on TV? I don't know of any reporters from a Greek or Cypriot paper here.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No, they're not here, but they're watching my matches on Greek TV, I think. The last two matches they saw on Greek television. I don't know, maybe against the winner, maybe next round, because it's a quarterfinal, it's more important, maybe there will be more people watching. Maybe will get crazy again like in Australia.
Q. Do they call you at the hotel, reporters, from Greece or Cyprus?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No.
Q. After you, who is the most prominent athlete to ever come out of Cyprus?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Me.
Q. Besides you.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Some football players. Orcas. Do you want the names?
Q. Yes.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Okkas.
Q. Football player?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, football player.
Q. If you were to play Nadal, that's going to be a match that everyone would want to watch.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Me, too (smiling).
Q. Your styles are so exciting.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, I mean, it's a great match. I mean, like I said before, I'll take it like another match and I'll try to win it, of course. I'll fight for it and that's all. That's all I can do.
Q. Are you as excited at the way he plays?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, he's a great player. He's a great sportsman. He's a great guy. He's playing great tennis. That says it all.
Q. Can you reveal the secret of why the islands of the Mediterranean produce such colorful tennis players?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: You can ask my father about that.
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text:
What's interestingis that the device has a silvery back plate, a color version we've never seen before.
The Canadian company has placed all its bets on the new operating system, delayed it and we've waited months on end until it is finally ready to ship. What are your expectations?
source: @evleaks


text:
Thomas Street underpass planned, despite RR worries
Though people in attendance seemed fine with upgrades to Highway 10 west of Detroit Lakes, they weren't as crazy about the idea of Thomas Street being turned into a frontage road.
People gathered Tuesday evening for a meeting regarding Highway 10 and Highway 59 projects with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The result of a planning study started in 2009, the project is slated for 2015.
The joint project between the state and the city of Detroit Lakes will include a frontage road along Highway 10 from the Highway 59 intersection to Airport Road.
It also includes a frontage road along Highway 59 south connecting to the frontage road along Highway 10 to L&M Fleet. That portion will also include an underpass at Thomas Street to connect the downtown portion of Detroit Lakes to the developing western side of town.
MnDOT project manager Tom Lundberg said the main goals of the frontage road are:
Mobility — same as was done east of town when Highway 10 was realigned and old Highway 10 became a frontage road.
Safety — allowing access to the west side of town for motorized wheelchairs, pedestrians and bikes.
Access management — meaning some access points along Highway 10 will be closed or signaled.
And commercial growth — the business area is developing but the road system has not kept up.
"We can space signals safely rather than stacking them on top of each other," he said.
The three access points will be Airport Road as it exists, one at Subway where it already exists as well but with some alternations, and then a signaled access near the former Grover's site.
The turn by Subway will be a left entrance only from Highway 10 and a right only exit onto Highway 10. Vehicles will not be allowed to cross Highway 10 from the frontage road and turn west.
City Engineer Jon Pratt said the "city's involvement is somewhat small compared to the state involvement."
The main part of the city's share will come from the underpass (which is a shared cost with the state) and connecting to that underpass on the eastern side of Highway 10.
Several connections have been considered in the past, but Jacob's Engineering, the consulting team hired by the state, said the Thomas Street connection is the best option.
"The goal is to create a local connection to the rest of the town," Pratt said.
The biggest concern Tuesday night, though, was that connection. Many people questioned the need for the project if the city couldn't get the Canadian Pacific Railroad to stop trains before the crossing.
Trains can be stopped on the CP tracks for half an hour at a time, and therefore would deter anyone from using the new connecting road.
Pratt said that he, City Administrator Bob Louiseau and representatives from MnDOT and Canadian Pacific Railroad talked Tuesday morning about whether or not trains could be stopped at least before the Holmes Crossing so all three crossings weren't closed for such long periods of time.
"It's a bit more complicated that we first thought," Pratt said. "But, we've at least started to address that."
He said that though it's "less than convenient" to work with the railroad, it is the only option right now because an overpass or underpass at the crossing isn't feasible.
"It's more complicated but it's not dead in the water either," he said of working with the railroad to get trains to stop back a bit and not block intersections.
He said that if the railroad doesn't work with the state and city, there isn't a Plan B at this point.
In 2015, when the highway project is in full swing, Highway 10 construction will be done half at a time, meaning cars will shift from one side of the divided highway to the other while the opposite lanes are being constructed. The same goes for the Highway 59 project.
"It's fairly straightforward," said Tom Parker of Jacob's Engineering.
Traffic will be maintained the entire time. Once Fourth of July and WE Fest roll around, Lundberg said work crews will shut down those days because of the high volume of traffic.
"We can't have work done when there's that much traffic in town," he said.
The city is holding a public works meeting in May that will address the project, and the public is encouraged to come voice their opinions then.
The tentative scheduled for the project is consent from the city council at the June meeting and then in summer of 2014, there will be a public meeting with the final design of the project. From there, there will be a final meeting in early 2015 to talk about schedules and such, and then construction will start that spring.
To find out more about the project, visit the state's website at www.dot.state.mn.us/d4/projects/dlfrontageroad.
Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.