Note: This strays greatly from the basic storyline. Ico will not even be mentioned and practically everything in this I made up myself including names, a few of the characters, customs, and building aspects. Some of the buildings will be similar, but not any parts seen in the game.

And with that, I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter I: A Son Yet To Be

The castle was, to say the least, for boding. Shadows crept across her face, shading every crevice and wall as the sun rose higher from beneath the hazy clouds of morning. A light mist hovered above the ocean beneath. So high was the castle that no enemy could think of puncturing her one weakness; the animals that occupied her. The outer walls held firm against attack, as did the single vast bridge that lead from the cliff to the sole island she rested on. A small cave lay near the ocean deep below the gargantuan shape, but with the gate so low into the sea, entry could only be made with permission.
She was perfect at holding enemies out, but little did her minions know of the enemy within. Beneath the rock and waves rested a most powerful creature. It slept within its water bed, silently awaiting the moment it would be released and able to reek havoc upon the world once more. This creature's name was death.

Oen stood on the curve of a balcony watching the sun in her daughter's hair. The light of day was breaking into noon, and every bit of its brightness shown in the grayish strands that floated about Yorda's neck. She was on the top of a building in front of her mother, arms lifted in the air with joyful laughter escaping her lips. Birds circled in the sky above her, many taking to flight as she ran wild over the square just so she could watch them soar once again. They would always come back though. Not only did they like her young Yorda and had become used to her, but she also held a small back of feed in her hands.
The young queen smiled. It always filled her with joy to watch the princess play. It reminded her so much of her own younger years. They both could have been twins if it hadn't been for their ages. Pale skin that glowed like the moon, hesitant and yet still flowing movements, feathery hair that reminded one of down, and a matching outfit adorned them both. Other than their difference in height and body shape, Oen also had hair that lead to the small of her back. Yorda would have to grow her hair as well; it was expected of all of the women of the castle when they came of age.
Oen couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness at that thought. Yorda and herself were the only women in the castle as of the moment. The women had settled in a town many nights away until the castle was complete. The men, tall and robusque with horns that matched their personalities didn't make good friends to confide in. Yorda had no one to play with but her mother and kind father, though he was often too busy to even acknowledge her existence as of late.
The king often stopped his busy work to visit Oen, but the visits were lessening since she often brought up the subject of how he never visited Yorda. The conversation would break into an uncomfortable silence before he fumbled with an excuse to leave.
Almost as if on queue, in he came. Men were judged in status by the size of their horns which meant, of course, that his were the largest of all the males. They automatically drew one's attention when seeing him; large, sleek, and black. Not even one chip as many of the workers had. He wore the outfit known of men, only a little flashier. Draped over a silken white shirt was a large red cloth engraved with golden lace. Oen could remember the hours she spent making it. His tan pants tucked into leather tied about his calves, pristine sandals tugging at his large feet. Unlike his wife, the king was quite tan.
He surveyed Oen quietly a moment. She didn't look at him; she watched Yorda. Stepping in place next to her, he gave a normal greeting for the time of day, "The sun is high and light plentiful Oen"
"And I am glad of our lives, Kail," she answered almost robotically. Now that the greetings were out of the way, normal conversation could once again commence.
She jumped at the sudden feel of his large hands trailing through her hair. He hadn't touched her in weeks, which made this gesture all the more surprising.
"Your hair is growing longer," he commented. The longer the hair of a woman was, the more beautiful she was believed to be. She looked to him in silence a moment. Though still quite upset at his lack of willingness to see his daughter, she couldn't help but smile. It was one of the highest compliments that he could pay her.
Kail smiled back. The large hand moved to her shoulder, pulling her next to his strong form. His eyes never left her, "You have been most unhappy."
Oen's eyes stayed focused on Yorda, cleverly avoiding his. It was such a touching moment; she didn't wish to interrupt it with her own complaints. Their love had almost faded recently, and the sign that it might not completely be gone couldn't be broken by her thoughts on Yorda. But his eyes forced her to answer in an unwilling tone, "You know of the reason Kail."
For the first time Kail moved his eyes away from hers. He noticed Yorda. She was crouched on the ground, hands filled with the last of the feed, though it was unseen due to the fluttering white birds that plucked so eagerly at it. More birds crouched on her shoulders and legs, happily dozing from their filling meal. Almost as if called by her father's gaze, she looked up to the two.
Her birds were instantly forgotten. She stood suddenly, throwing the feed aside and waving with her childish hand. A blast of white feathers shot away from her, the birds dispersing in every direction and flying toward the clouds.
Oen felt Kail stiffen. She knew what was to come, and indeed it happened. He withdrew from her suddenly and began to leave. He didn't even bother with the proper farewell.
Yorda's face fell immediately. Her mother attempted to offer her a friendly smile from her perch, but Yorda had already turned away. She crouched with her back facing the balcony. Not one bird came to comfort her. The queen felt fury boiling inside of her. These are most unbefitting emotions for me, she thought, but I can't keep them down any longer. She rushed after her king.
Kail had reached the door, but the feel of the soft fingers grasping at his arm immediately stopped him. He turned and watched her with silent, stern eyes. They revealed nothing of his reasoning.
"Why do you hate our daughter?" Oen was surprised at her bluntness, and so was Kail. Their people had a way of dodging around the truth. They usually only hinted at what they meant. A queen was never meant to openly question her king as she had just done.
But no punishment ensued. Instead he seemed to open to her. A weary sigh escaped him. He looked to the dimly lit ceiling of stone and spoke in a manner Oen had never heard him use; remorse, "I have worked on this castle ever since she was born. Years and years have passed, and no matter what I do, the one thing I built this fortress for has never come. I made it all for a son"
Oen drew in a sudden breath. It felt as if she had just received a punch in the stomach. He blamed their daughter for not being of the correct gender? How could that possibly be? It wasn't as if it was Yorda's fault or even her own.
Kail looked at her a moment longer. Then, slowly, he stepped on the stone that made the metal door shoot into the framework. It slammed noisily behind him, the sound ringing through the room and Oen's breaking heart.

And that's it for now. I have another chapter and a half written, but I'm going to continue to grammatically correct them before posting. I hope you enjoyed this! Thank you for reading!-