It is hard to even know if the writers are actually hinting at something or if they are just having the characters say stuff that doesn’t really mean anything. This show used to have hints to things that could be figured out, but it has been a long time since that was true. Usually now, the writers forget what the characters have said and what happens is instead really straight forward.
They just have the characters say stuff they shouldn’t know. For instance, Arthur tells Guinevere that the dagger is part of Excalibur even though there is no reason he should know it or the reason wasn’t shown. They usually use stuff when the plot needs it and then forget about it, like the sorcerer’s mansion in the storybrooke. I find it futile to try and pick those things up because in the end they won’t mean anything, ther won’t be a satisfying conclusion and we will get only twists like the black fairy is Rumple’s mother (how did we not see that twist, that was never forshadowed or never had any hints or clues, coming?!?)
"All your questions are pointless"