With the princess's special magical amulet, the new friends escaped the dungeon, and went to meet the Fair Folk in their village. They had already found Hen Wen, and promised to protect him, if Taran would take their enchanted sword. The Fair Folk were being troubled by three witches who demanded to have the sword, and Taran remembered seeing the witches in Hen Wen's oracle. Taran and the others found the witches, and Taran told them he would hand over the sword if they gave him the Black Cauldron. The witches agreed, and handed it over. Only the right spell would awaken its magic, and only the cost of a life would make it stop once it was awakened.

But before Taran could try and think of a way to destroy the Cauldron... The Horned King and his minions had caught up, and captured them! All but Gurgi, who cowardly ran away...