Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3486995-20131124234755/@comment-24674051-20141202151219

You know, if you look at it closely, some of the blame for Rumple becoming the DO can be set squarely on Milah (and maybe a little on Killian as well). By running off and leaving Bae with Rumple, it put Rumple in the position of trying to protect Bae at all costs, by himself. Had Milah not run off, they could have dealt with the whole Ogre War drafting situation together and Milah might have been able to prevent Rumps from seeking the Dark One (though maybe not). and had Milah returned and collected Bae prior to the whole Ogre War drafting, then Rumps would not have sought the DO dagger to protect Bae.