Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-33328098-20160722221029/@comment-25926288-20160722230956

I guess I'll break into 2 types of responses.

In show answers:

1. The Promethean flame is capable of manipulating the Holy Grail (and Excalibur). It was likely capable of creating weird effects with the tethering spell as the tethering spell might not hold (or be pervasive) due to that "firepower". Emma suggested that she'd use the flame to remove Merlin's tether and then tether Killain to it.

2. Yes. The Grail can take many forms and now the Darknesses of the DO's are absorbed and now formed into the new dagger.

Honest answers from Esk:

1. Made up as they went along. The Dagger could tether when the host was removed. If the dagger can tether and Excalibur (broken) could tether, there's no reaseon why it could not stay tethered. Emma's whole tethering Killain made no sense to this day and non of us have a real answer besides theories and speculation.

2. The writers must just love the dagger. I mean, Rumple coldn't very well just slip it into his jacket or really hide it that much. I mean, Belle would have found out immediately with some sharp, pointed object behind Rumple's back.