[s2e16] The Miller's Daughter File

Locked in a tower to prove her claim or face death, she is visited by . He offers to spin the gold in exchange for her firstborn child. However, Cora convinces him to teach her the magic instead. As they work together, they fall in love and plan to run away, changing their contract so the child will be theirs .

At the last moment, Cora realizes that love is a weakness that will keep her from power. She rips out her own heart to remain cold and calculating, choosing to marry Prince Henry and become royalty rather than flee with Rumplestiltskin. [S2E16] The Miller's Daughter

It reveals that Rumplestiltskin was once capable of being loved and almost gave up his power for Cora. Locked in a tower to prove her claim

Critics from The A.V. Club and IGN praised Rose McGowan's performance as young Cora and the emotional weight of the Rumple/Cora backstory. As they work together, they fall in love

This marks the first time Snow White commits a dark act, causing her own heart to begin to darken. Critical Reception and Trivia

The title refers to the classic fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin , where a miller's daughter must spin straw into gold.

Mary Margaret (Snow White) discovers that the only way to save Gold—and stop Cora—is to use the . The candle can save one person but requires another life in exchange. Mary Margaret, manipulated by the situation and her desire to protect her family, uses the candle on Cora’s heart (which is stored in the vault) and then tricks Regina into putting the heart back into Cora’s body.