suchaneutralgood:

A week ago Lexa apologized for the tactics Roan had used to capture her and bring her to Polis. She briefly relayed that those measures were taken because if they weren’t, she’d be captured by the ice queen instead, so she chose the lesser of two evils to save her life. Clarke was furious, threatened her, spat in her face. Lexa puts everything on hold for a week – until she could not longer wait –simply because Clarke did not wish to speak with/see her. Earlier in the day she told Clarke she’d be returned home and explained again that she had her brought to Polis for her protection. Clarke’s life was in grave, imminent danger, and Lexa couldn’t let anything happen to her. She then tried to explain away her decision at MW, compared it to Clarke’s predicament, asked if she would have done the same thing. Eventually she tells her they shouldn’t dwell on what’s happened but focus on what is currently happening and what could happen and the danger everyone was in. She had personal invested interest in Clarke staying, but it was also about Clarke’s saftey and her people’s saftey. She tried to reason with Clarke and got no where. Later on Clarke called for her and she presumably dropped everything to go see her. Clarke put a knife on her throat and Lexa apologized for a second time. She takes full responsibility for the pain she’s caused Clarke and for why Clarke was behaving that way towards her. Lexa realizes that she cannot reason with Clarke, that Clarke does not wanna be there and that Clarke just moments ago, was close to killing her. She realized that the damage is done and that all she can do is let Clarke go. Even though that means Nia will overthrow her at the coup - that she totally saw coming - even though that means she will not be in power anymore. That Skaikru, including Clarke, would probably die, and there would be nothing she could do to protect Clarke. She decided to let Clarke go because that’s what she wants. But Clarke thankfully understands the severity of the situation and decideds to remain in Polis.

What I love about this scene is that for a third time, Lexa is taking full responsibility for what she did. She doesn’t try to explain herself further, or make Clarke understand. She accepts that she did betray her she acknowledges it, apologizes, and vows to never do it again.

Yes… what an abusive, toxic dynamic they had.