Caterana ab Harmon
The mother of King Iain II and the Queen to his father, Bran. Born to high station, as the sister to the grandfather of the current Duke of Farin, her marriage to Bran further tying those two closely married families. From birth, both sets of parents always had an eye towards their future union, leaving either with little say in the matter. Of course, when two so strong-minded people are told that something will be, it is only natural that they will buck, and turn in the opposite direction. Starting from the age of four, when Bran pulled her hair, the two developed a quite mutual hatred, and never had a nice word to say about one another. Even Kings and Dukes must accept the inevitable and the long standing engagement between the two was called off, and the breadth of the kingdom was assessed for a possible bride for the future King. It was only after this that the two, now in their mid teens, gave each other a chance and looked at what they had hated all of those years. Disgust and anger turned quickly into love and more, and to the astonishment of their parents they were married in secret by the radical Bishop of Talfore, and again in the public eye, a short two weeks later.
Somewhat rare for royalty, their marriage was a happy one, the two ruling side by side as King and Queen. She was the first to do so, rather than taking the title of Consort as all those before her had done since the time of Dav. It has ever been her way to be involved in the events of her kingdom, from her personal appearance to quell the Baker's Rebellion of 283, to her heart-wrenching speech at Bran's public funeral. She was ever in the public eye until that moment, when she retreated inward, and is now no longer seen outside of the Palace. These days, when she is seen at court, she sits upon a high balcony, commenting darkly and wryly about the fads and foppery of the young nobles.
It was a tradition during her time as Queen, for her to have public buildings and entities named after her. The most notable of these was the Guard component of the Reeves, who were first named as the Queen's Guard when they marched in a place of honor as the escort to her coronation. Since then, and with the King's blessing, they took the name officially and ever since, they have always been a favorite of hers. Her son, King Iain II, has shown no sign of reversing such things of the past, although there has been no indication that he will continue them in his own reign.
Even though she is no longer the reigning monarch, it is still common for the people of Lithmore to lovingly call her, 'The Queen' or 'Our Queen.'
