The Lost Hero

Chapter 3

Dahvi barely slept that night, his mind preoccupied with all that Princess Zelda had revealed to him. As a prince, he felt it was his duty to help her, but what help he could offer, he didn't know. And besides; it wasn't like he was really a prince. As a Voe, he wasn't even allowed in his own home. It would have been different if he were a Gerudo Voe, but he was not. And outside of Gerudo, he would have even less power. In truth, he was no one. And what help could a nobody provide for the Princess of Hyrule?

These thoughts continued to occupy his mind the following morning, and it seemed to occupy Zelda's mind, too. Their goodbyes felt somber, despite the cheery moods of the adults around them. Zelda hugged Urbosa tightly, wishing her a safe journey in Gerudo, and together, Urbosa and Dahvi left Castle Town to make their trip back to the desert.

The majority of the morning went by quietly. This time, Dahvi did not scamper ahead excitedly. He did not pause to take in the sights that Hyrule offered them. He kept his eyes to the ground, still mulling over Princess Zelda's words. He barely noticed when they stopped to rest, almost walking right past Urbosa. He jumped when she put a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to meet her gaze.

"What's on your mind, Dahvi?" she asked. Her eyes pulled at the corners in concern.

"When were you going to tell us?" Dahvi asked softly.

Urbosa's expression did not change. Dahvi knew that she knew what he was referring to. But still, he spoke again.

"Why didn't you tell us that you are one of the Champions?"

"I'm sorry, Dahvi," Urbosa said quietly. "I wanted to wait until you and Riju were a little older."

"Why?" Dahvi sneered. "Do you think we wouldn't understand? Do you think we wouldn't find out? That we wouldn't see that a war is coming?"

Urbosa frowned and turned her eyes to the ground. "Vi," she started.

"We know what the Divine Beasts are for," Dahvi continued. "Sheikah technology created for war. They're not there for Riju to climb all over like one of her sand seels."

"I was not trying to keep anything from you," Urbosa said, her voice hardening. She met his gaze. "That's why I brought you with me. I wanted you to see Hyrule for yourself. I wanted to give you a chance to meet King Roham and Princess Zelda. To see the Rito, the Gorons, and the Zora. I wanted you to see the beauty that is Hyrule and the truth behind the legends. It is not something I can simply explain to you and expect you to understand to its fullest."

"Princess Zelda did," Dahvi said.

Urbosa's expression softened. "And you saw her pain, her worries, the burden placed on her, did you not?"

Dahvi hesitated and pulled his gaze away.

"Dahvi," Urbosa started. "Hyrule is our home. Not just Gerudo Desert. Hyrule has endured many triumphs and losses. It has seen many wars and battles. It has seen strife. It has seen peace. There was a time when even the Gerudo were not respected, and there were battles between us and the Hylians. Even now, there is tension with the Zora. But in the end, Hyrule is our home. And I do not want you to be locked away in this corner of the world. There is much for you to see and learn, Vi. You need to find your place in this world, and you need to know who you are."

"And what about this war?"

"It is my job to help protect our home. As long as Calamity Ganon's threat remains, I will always be ready to come to Hyrule's defense. It is our duty to help Princess Zelda and ensure Hyrule's safety."

"I understand," Dahvi said through his teeth. "I just don't like it. And I don't like being pulled around on a leash on some secret quest to find myself. I'd rather hear the truth from you than from some stuck-up Princess."