The High Aldwin

Season

1

Episode

2

Premiered date

November 30, 2022

Writer

Bob Dolman, Jonathan Kasdan

Director

Stephen Woolfenden

Episode guide
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The Gales	The Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb

The High Aldwin is the second episode in the Disney + television series, Willow. The episode aired on November 30, 2022.

Synopsis[]

The Nelwyn villagers welcome the young adventurers sent by Queen Sorsha. Willow Ufgood, the High Aldwin, offers guidance as they continue their journey.

Plot Summary[]

In a flashback, Willow explains to Sorsha that if she doesn’t practice magic it will slowly fade away. Sorsha believes this is a good thing because if Elora can’t practice magic, the dark forces won’t think she’s a threat and thereby won’t attack. Sorsha mentions Madmartigan, wondering if he is dead because he hasn’t returned from his mission. Willow thinks he is alive still.

In present, the group goes to Willow’s village and meet Willow’s daughter, Mims. Kit and the others are processing the revelation about Dove being Elora. Willow, known as The High Aldwin, addresses the village. He consults the bones and mutters to himself, “Interesting…” He talks about the child of the prophecy and how she is the one who can defeat the darkness. He says this can happen once Elora finishes her training. He hopes the magic will come to her naturally, but he is wrong. He even does a finger test to see how much magic comes out. The village seems discouraged by this.

One of the Gales, The Lich, sits over a fire and says “the child has revealed herself”. Back at the castle, Sorsha finds out that Dove (Elora) has gone. Sorsha realizes it might already be too late and sends Ballantine to bring her back safely.

The Crone says that Elora will be able to destroy her so they can’t let her reach the city.

Meanwhile, Kit, Jade, Elora, and the others debate if they should stay so Elora can get her magic training or go to find Airk. Elora desperately wants to leave and find Airk, disregarding Willow’s request to have her stay. Mims tells Willow to go with Elora- that way he can teach her, protect her, and when the time is right- give his wand to her. Elora, however, has disappeared. Willow addresses Kit and the others emphasizing how important it is that they find Elora. They all set out to find her. Eventually, they do, and the group sets out West.

Willow offers to take the others go to the Immemorial City, guessing that Airk might be hidden there, on the condition that Elora agrees to train and learn magic. Elora agrees and the group sets off, joined also by Willow's Nelwyn friend Silas.

Ballantine’s group is tired and asks to rest but Ballantine insists they keep going. Merrick asks what’s gotten into Ballantine and his face and voice slowly change, as he turns into a type of monster. He attacks the rest of the group, also turning them into monsters that follow Lich’s orders.

Kit and the group continue on horseback. Boorman tells Kit that he’s less of a robber and more of a treasure hunter. He tells her that he searched for the Cuirass, claiming that Madmartigan found it and still has it somewhere. Willow starts training Elora on magic but she struggles.

Ballantine and his group go to Nelwyn and question the villagers. Ballantine questions Mims, but she doesn’t give anything away. She claims they went back to Tir Asleen, but the men think she’s lying. They find wagon tracks headed west and they follow them.

The High Aldwin 05 — Willow teaching Elora about magic.

Elora grows frustrated that she’s not getting better at magic. She tells Willow that this isn’t her- she isn’t Elora, she isn’t Dove, she isn’t magical- she’s a cook who’s real name is Brünhilde. He encourages her to continue.

Kit talks to Jade about leaving the group to go find Airk on their own. Kit is frustrated and thinks she can rescue Airk without Elora’s magic.

Graydon finds Elora in the forest, practicing. He chats with her about her life and tries to lift her spirit- telling she’s extraordinary even if she can’t see it herself. This boost of confidence helps her with her magic. She tries once again after Graydon leaves.

In a conversation with Silas, Willow confesses that in all his visions of the future, Elora Danan dies saving the world. Kit asks Boorman more about the Cuirass and everything he knows about her father. Elora wakes up from a slumber and frustratedly hits the dirt, realizing her spell didn’t work. She screams the spell one more time but gets hit over the head by Ballantine, who pulls her away. He drags her away. Her magical spell worked and a plant grew in the dirt.

Cast[]

Main[]

Supporting[]

Archive footage[]

Mark Vande Brake as Young Ranon
Dawn Downing as Young Mims
Julie Peters as Kiaya Ufgood
Billy Barty as High Aldwin Junn
Ruth Greenfield and Kate Greenfield as Baby Elora

Quotes[]

"The Child of the Prophecy returns to fulfill her destiny by uniting the world against the enemy in the Great War to come."

—Willow

Notes & Trivia[]

One of the extras in the cave is Abbie Purvis, the granddaughter of Jack Purvis and the daughter of Katie Purvis, who were in the 1988 Willow film. ^[1]
Elora reveals that her real name is Brünhilde. This is a reference to the original movie where her adoptive father, Madmardigan, once disguised himself as a woman named "Hilde" to avoid getting caught by the husband of his lover.^[1]