Editing Catherine (section)

=== Queen Catherine {{wll}} ===
The following is a short story that was written by a New World Computing employee and published on the now-defunct fansite "The Nether Gods".
:<div style="font-style: italic;">"Earlier this week I was asked about Queen Catherine. I, too, wonder about the well being of the daughter of our King, [[Nicolas Gryphonheart]], especially now, since I am sure she has heard the news of her husband's demise that [[Xanthor]]'s attempted assassin spoke of.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">Catherine has not so much as set foot in [[Erathia]] since her marriage to [[Roland Ironfist]], King of [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]], ten years ago, though she left quite an impression in her twenty years in [[Erathia]]. Catherine is the first daughter of [[Nicolas Gryphonheart|Nicolas]] and [[Gwenllian Gryphonheart]], born less than one year after their marriage in 1133 A.S. Catherine had one sibling, a sister named [[Beatrice Gryphonheart|Beatrice]], who was born, strangely enough, on Catherine's seventh birthday. The event was heralded across the land as a good omen, and a nationwide celebration was held for seven days - one day for each year that separated the sisters.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">On her sixteenth birthday, and against the wishes of her father, Catherine enlisted in the [[Erathia]]n military. It was completely unheard of, and [[Nicolas Gryphonheart|King Nicolas]] nearly ordered her daughter brought to the palace in shackles, but the endorsement of [[Queen Gwenllian]] ended all disputes. However, Catherine's first few months in the military were anything but routine, as she quickly outlearned, outfought, and simply outclassed even some of [[Erathia]]'s best officers.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">In June of 1151, Catherine was ordered to take a small force to near the [[Contested Lands]], where she was to put down a rebellion of citizens who claimed to be descendants of the [[Phynaxian Empire]] and were demanding their independence from the [[Kingdom of Erathia]]. As it turns out, the rebellion was a setup by one of the Generals of [[Erathia]]'s military, a man by the name of [[Connel Traxton]], who intended to bring an end to Catherine's rapid rise through the ranks of the army.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">Catherine's force was ambushed two days before her scheduled arrival in the [[Contested Lands]] by an army nearly twice their size, comprised mostly of [[goblin]]s and [[orc]]s. Keeping her wits, and using apparently a natural ability for tactics (though some claim it was merely a miracle), Catherine was able to not only defeat her attackers, but she managed to capture the opposing commander, who through a bit of "persuading" confessed to his involvement in [[General Traxton]]'s plan. The man was dragged back to the [[Erathia]]n capitol, where it is said that [[General Traxton]] actually fainted when told the news. The enemy commander was immediately executed, and [[Traxton]] would have followed, but Catherine demanded that she be allowed to duel the now former General. According to the records of the event, Catherine had slain [[Connel Traxton]] before either of them had broken a sweat.

:For her miraculous (there's that word again) victory, Catherine Gryphonheart, barely seventeen years old, was given the [[Erathia]]n Medal of Courage by her (now very proud) father.

:Two years later, [[Queen Gwenllian]] and Catherine's sister, [[Beatrice Gryphonheart|Beatrice]], were killed by marauders while travelling along the northern coast. It is said that the King nearly destroyed the palace when he received word, and that Catherine nearly destroyed the barracks. The funeral and the days which followed were perhaps the most somber time in recent memory, disturbed only by the news of the swift and complete punishment dealt upon the marauders who were responsible for the murders. Rumor has it that Catherine blamed herself for not being there to protect her mother and sister, and as a result she resigned from the military and swore not to let the same thing happen to her father, becoming his personal guard.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">Fearing for his daughter's well-being, in May of 1154 [[Nicolas Gryphonheart|King Gryphonheart]] made arrangements for the marriage of Catherine to [[King Roland Ironfist]] of [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]], who had earlier that year defeated his brother, [[Archibald]], in a pitched battle for the Throne of [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]], which came to be called the [[Succession Wars]]. Though at first she did not wish to leave her father's side, Catherine eventually agreed to the marriage, and on the first day of August, 1154, she married [[King Roland]], becoming Queen Catherine Ironfist of [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]]. The ship that carried her from [[Erathia]] was renamed the Queen Catherine, and she has not returned to her homeland since.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">The following year the proclamation was read in every city, town and village in [[Erathia]]. Queen Catherine had given birth to a son. The child was called [[Nicolai]], which the Queen chose to honor her father.

:<div style="font-style: italic;">I'm sure [[Nicolas Gryphonheart|King Gryphonheart]] is to this day still filled with pride. I just pray that the Queen does not blame herself for the loss of her husband."</div>