Coven of the Eight

Coven of the Eight
Group of Characters
Biographical Information
Status:	Alive
Origin:	New Enchanted Forest
Physical Description
Species:	Human
Gender:	Female
Show Information
First appearance:	"The Final Battle Part 1"
Latest appearance:	"Knightfall"

“

When it comes to witches, they are the worst of the worst.

”

—Zelena to Regina and Robin ^src

The Coven of the Eight is a group of characters featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the twenty-first episode of the sixth season.

History

After Fourth Curse

At some point in her life, Gothel joins and becomes the leader of the Coven of the Eight, a coven of the most powerful witches in all the land. Eventually, Gothel recruits Madame Leota, the Blind Witch, a pre-cursed Doctor Sage, Drizella and three other witches to form her coven. ("The Eighth Witch," "Secret Garden," "A Taste of the Heights")

After Drizella gives the heroes a prophecy of a Dark Curse she will cast in eight years, the heroes thwart her plans by turning her into a statue. Eight years later, as the heroes are celebrating the birthday of Lucy, Gothel and the Coven of the Eight interrupt and free Drizella, whom she offers to aid with enacting the curse, before teleporting away with her. Sometime after this, the coven kidnap Henry and poison him, ensuring he will die unless he goes to a Land Without Magic. Gothel joins Drizella and other coven witches at a summoning altar, where they have Henry cloaked and bound in the center of it. Rapunzel tries to warn Drizella about the fact Gothel is only using her for her own gain, but Drizella ignores her advice and knocks her out. Regina and Zelena show up with their allies ambush the other witches, with Hook holding Gothel as a hostage, however, Hook lets her go on Regina's orders when Drizella reveals she intends for Regina to cast the curse. Gothel then reveals Henry to Regina as Drizella explains the necessity that Regina cast the curse; both to save Henry's life and because the final curse ingredient has to be magic from a witch who crushed the heart of the thing she loved most. Once the curse is enacted, Gothel is swept away to Hyperion Heights along with everyone else in the land. ("The Eighth Witch")

During Fifth Curse

After being transported to Hyperion Heights, the witches begin assuming cursed identities. As part of their plan, Gothel and Drizella remain awake and begin using the cursed aliases Eloise Gardener and Ivy Belfrey, while they lead Lady Tremaine's cursed persona to believe it was she who cast the curse. ("Hyperion Heights," "Greenbacks," "The Eighth Witch")

The Blind Witch becomes known as a baker named Hilda Braeburn, while one of the witches become a doctor named Andrea Sage. ("The Eighth Witch," "A Taste of the Heights")

After Victoria Belfrey wakes up her daughter, Anastasia, which causes Lucy to fall into a coma, Doctor Sage becomes in charge of the case. Meanwhile, Eloise recruits Anastasia to join the coven after she gives Ivy's magic to her, while kicking Ivy out of the group. ("The Eighth Witch")

Doctor Sage continues to attempt to wake Lucy up, leading her to take a blood sample from her mother Jacinda Vidrio, her legal father Nick Branson and Henry Mills, which leads her to discover that Henry is Lucy's real father. As she discovers the information, she also discovers she has been poisoned and she dies, as a gloved figure in black snips off a piece of her hair. ("Secret Garden")

Known Members

• Anastasia
• Blind Witch/Hilda Braeburn †
• Doctor Sage †
• Drizella/Ivy Belfrey (formerly)
• Gothel/Eloise Gardener (leader)
• Madame Leota
• 3 other members

Trivia

• Set Notes

Props Notes

• The Coven's symbol bears striking similarities to:
  • The vegvísir, a magical stave from Nordic folklore. The vegvísir is intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather.
  • The Helm of Awe, from Nordic Folkore. The Helm of Awe is intended to confer invincibility in the wearer or instill fear in ones enemies.
  • Eight algiz runes combined. The algiz rune is Elder Futhark for 'elk'. An elk symbolizes strength and stamina.
  • The symbol also represents Sam Ochotta's tattoo. ("The Eighth Witch")

Appearances

Once Upon a Time: Season Six
"The Savior":	"A Bitter Draught":	"The Other Shoe":	"Strange Case":	"Street Rats":	"Dark Waters":	"Heartless":	"I'll Be Your Mirror":	"Changelings":	"Wish You Were Here":	"Tougher Than the Rest":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"Murder Most Foul":	"Ill-Boding Patterns":	"Page 23":	"A Wondrous Place":	"Mother's Little Helper":	"Awake":	"Where Bluebirds Fly":	"The Black Fairy":	"The Song in Your Heart":	"The Final Battle Part 1":	"The Final Battle Part 2":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Voice Only	Absent

Once Upon a Time: Season Seven
"Hyperion Heights":	"A Pirate's Life":	"The Garden of Forking Paths":	"Beauty":	"Greenbacks":	"Wake Up Call":	"Eloise Gardener":	"Pretty in Blue":	"One Little Tear":	"The Eighth Witch":	"Secret Garden":
Absent	Absent	Appears	Absent	Appears	Appears	Appears	Appears	Appears	Appears	Appears
"A Taste of the Heights":	"Knightfall":	"The Girl in the Tower":	"Sisterhood":	"Breadcrumbs":	"Chosen":	"The Guardian":	"Flower Child":	"Is This Henry Mills?":	"Homecoming":	"Leaving Storybrooke":
Appears	Appears	Appears	Appears	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent