Ariadne is set on going after Philip, so the Fanel siblings quickly get together and perform the Spell of Three.  They determine that Philip is in Hyrule with the Savra of the Gerudo Valley.  Immediately, Ariadne, Adriana, and Mia set off to find him.  Meanwhile, at the Savra palace, Philip is introduced to the Alpha, a woman named Nassan.  Nassan reveals to him that all the Gerudo of Hyrule know about his existence because of an article from Lex's column.  As Gerudo males are exceptionally rare, they insist that he must be married to a Gerudo woman.  Nassan introduces him to Althea, the woman who will be his wife.

 

Philip is very hostile toward the Gerudo, but when he gets Nassan alone, she reveals the truth of the matter to him.  All the Gerudo know about him and the most powerful, the Codiac Pride, had plans to kidnap him as well.  If the Savra had not acted first, the Codiac would have used him as a tool to begin a mass invasion of Hyrule.  The only way to maintain the balance of power was for the Savra to act first.  As they talk, Philip reluctantly admits to her that he understands the way she acted.  He further mentions that his mother spoke of Nassan.  She is a child of Ganondorf Dragmire, like him.  Although acknowledging their blood relations, Nassan insists that he must marry Althea.

 

Adriana, Mia, and Ariadne arrive in the Gerudo palace.  A verbal fight breaks out, ending when Ariadne accidentally challenges Althea's rights to Philip.  Nassan declares that the Phoenix Fighters may go through a series of trials to win Philip back.  First, Mia is forced to prove her courage over the courage of a Gerudo named Nitaru by holding a dangerous snake.  After that, Adriana goes through a challenge of wits against another named Nadizca in which she manages to identify a fake coin from thirty real ones.

 

Convinced that Ariadne's friends are of good character, Nassan submits to allowing Ariadne and Althea duel to the death for the right to Philip.  Ariadne, an inferior swordsman, struggles in the battle.  She takes several hits before Philip begs Nassan to allow her to fight without the sword.  Nassan is reluctant, but agrees at last.  Without the sword, Ariadne fares better in the battle and eventually disarms Althea.  Although the rules clearly state that the fight must be to the death, Ariadne refuses to kill Althea.  Althea takes advantage of this kindness and retrieves Ariadne's discarded sword, taking a swing at her back.  Philip blasts her before she can harm Ariadne.  After seeing his devotion, Nassan calls the fight in favor of Ariadne and frees Philip from his engagement to Althea.

 

Nassan insists that Philip choose a bride.  When he chooses Ariadne, she sends Ariadne with her servants to a bath house where she is initiated to Savra Pride as an honorary Gerudo.  Meanwhile, Nassan confesses to Philip, Adriana, and Mia, that she completely made up the trials.  Ariadne is brought back into the trial chamber where Jadis, the Savra Wise Woman performs a marriage ceremony, bonding Philip and Ariadne forever.