There was a definite squeal of delight as the doors of the Sanctuary opened to reveal a certain blonde surfer. "Oi! Empress Jewell come to knock the blade back into the day!" Janie grinned widely and nearly ran out to link arms with Jewell and drag her inside. Oh, the Empress was nearly something of a legend here on Scathachian soil, and Janie was all but too happy to escort her in. She had heard about the row that Jewell and Issy had had, who hadn't' And Janie, as well as the few others who were home and now came around the foyer's corner, were curious to know what really had happened. After all, the Rhydin Rumor Mill had a way of churning out incredible stories that sadly weren't true. A few of the tales being spun were that Jewell and Issy had fought over a man that night in the Marketplace, or that they were practicing for the newest duels: Death Matches, or that Isuelt had simply lost her lid and finally was going ballistic. Of course, the girls knew none of these to be true. But it made for no less entertaining.

"We've heard you've taken to dueling. Ever do it naked?" Janie's buttered blonde head canted as she looked to the blue-haired faerie. "S'really a rush!"

Sheryl, who'd disappeared for a moment when she heard that Jewell was arriving, now reappeared at the end of the foyer just off of the hall. "Empress" I believe there is someone who wants to see you." Sheryl, always the soft-spoken, gentle one had a smile reflecting warmly from her lips. Her peaceful countenance was almost always out of place, that is...for a priestess of a war goddess. She beckoned to Jewell, indicating Isuelt who was standing just beyond the double doors that led into the central gardens, which the Sanctuary was built around.

Isuelt's long form stood as still as the marble statues surrounding her. With one exception: Isuelt's face was anything but quiet repose. There were lines of regret heavily etched along her skin and a decided veil of sadness in her gaze. She had attacked this dear friend, she had said incredibly harsh words of anger. And all this while, she figured that Jewell would have written her off. She would have been in her right might, and perfectly correct. Isuelt had brought this havoc and sorrow upon herself with the seeds she had sown while she was under the Rage virus of Renna's. Isuelt would not have blamed Jewell in the least had she hated her for what she had said.

I'm so.....sorry, her lips silently curled around the words as she looked to Jewell. The other Scathachians, mostly at Sheryl's nudging, took this as a sign that the two should have some privacy, as they slowly scattered off on their ways. All except Janie, who had to be tugged at by Sheryl until she was finally out of sight.

While her body was pulled taut, Isuelt's posture and muscle tone were impeccable, it was her shivering exhale that belied the Scathachian's composure." She was so overjoyed and at the same time so shattered by what she had done to her friend." "Jewell....?" She was keeping her emotions at bay, especially under the watchful eyes of her Sisters." Sheryl, however, must have gotten the hint because she quickly made herself scarce." Isuelt and Jewell were left alone to simply stare at each other and wallow in their own private mental hells."

Eyeing her friend's posture, there was the fleeting thought that maybe Issy was going to attack her again. It was odd that Jewell hadn't considered the possibility previously, had refused to consider it really. And when Issy spoke her name, she squashed the thought completely. If blows were exchanged, they would be with words. That is how friends truly hurt each other, but that's not what Jewell came to do. "Issy," it may have been a bit forced, but she said it with a smile and a lightness to her tone that spoke of her real desire to pretend that nothing had happened between them. "You look...different.?"

"Please...?" She gestured to a doorway, beyond which was a small sitting room in which the Scathachians sometimes received visitors who arrived to consult or enlist their services."

She looked behind her friend to the small sitting room. "Oh, sure." Forcing her body to act naturally—no stiffness, no mechanical or guarded movements—she moved past her friend into the room.

Slowly, the Judge followed the Empress into the small chamber and shut the door behind them." Her chin turned to look over her shoulder before she rotated her body to face Jewell." There was only a moment's stiff hesitation before Isuelt's hands came up and rubbed over her own face, revealing a pained and pinched expression." She was desperately trying to not burst into tears."

She had only walked halfway into the room before turning to face Issy, her hands fidgeting at her side. Jewell had been mentally gearing herself up to defend her past actions against Issy's possible accusations, but her friend's clear pain rendered her momentarily speechless. How could she offer such excuses to Issy' She couldn't. Licking her lips, Jewell instead ate what tasted like a rather bitter slice of humble pie: "Issy. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I did lie to you when I left, and while I had my reasons," she took a deep breath before continuing in a tightly controlled voice, "but I know that doesn't make it right or okay.?"

Her head started to shake 'no' and just picked up speed until she was vehement in her emotional display." The corners of her mouth turned down in a sour frown and her lashes began their salty bath." Her long legs crossed the shortened distance between them, her arms open, "Please....Jewell, I'm...I'm so sorry...?" Her words stuttered, unaccustomed to being interrupted by sobs."

Somehow, she had even managed to mess up her apology because she was making Issy cry now. "You're sorry?" She asked, clearly confused, even as she enveloped her friend in her arms. The absurdity of it all, Issy sobbing in her arms and apologizing when Jewell had come with every intent on groveling and apologizing herself, had her actually laughing. "Issy...Issy," she squeezed her tightly, "you haven't done anything!?"

Those muscled arms held tight to Jewell as her voice whispered her confession, "I saw it...I saw it all." Like I was watching it happen to someone else and I...I couldn't stop it...?" Taking hold of Jewell's arms, she paused the embrace and pushed back to look her friend in the eye." She shook her head again as she made sure her words were crystal clear, "I don't think that." I don't think anything ill of you." Ever." You are one of my dearest friends, I couldn't love you more." Please....please, Jewell....I would never, ever hurt you." I...it kills me...what I almost did to you." I had no right, no right to attack you." It wasn't me." It was....I was sick." Very, very sick.?"

There was a part of her that wanted believe everything Issy said so earnestly, but the weeks of mulling over her words clouded the truth in her head. Jewell looked so uncertain when she met Issy's eyes. "But you were right, weren't you? What you said...I did lie. I just left you when you needed me." She shook her head, refusing to allow Issy to be the one to apologize here. Having overcome her pride, she could not get around stubbornness. "You didn't hurt me. I hurt you, and even if you didn't mean to....I deserve whatever you did and said.?"

She sniffed and let go of one of Jewell's arms to wipe a hand over her face." Taking a cleansing inhale as if she'd been underwater for the last few minutes, she licked her lips and began again." "Jewell, you did what you needed to do." I'd never question you or question any device you felt you needed to put in place." It was for the safety of your children...possibly others." To do what you did?" I know that it must have pained you." And I...mourning you was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do in my life...?" Her dark eyes raked over Jewell's deep blue hair until she finally reigned in enough strength to continue to speak." "F*ck everything I said." You being here?" Back among us?" It's a goddess damned prayer come true.?"

There was a clear fight going on inside her little head:" Did she insist that she was right and had done something unforgivable and therefore spurn Issy forgiveness" Or did she accept that her friend was right and that she was an idiot' Her lips trembled a little; control was hard to keep when she thought about what she had done, and what had happened here when she was gone. She closed her eyes for a moment and spoke very quietly, "When I left...I just figured life would move on here without me because what did I really matter?" When she opened them again, her grey eyes were shiny with tears, "But I was wrong and it did matter, and I am sorry for that. And I want to make it up to you. I don't know how, but I do.?"

Nodding fervently, Isuelt then bowed her head to Jewell, "Yes." Yes, I do." If you can forgive me.?" At the present moment, there was nothing that Jewell could to elicit negativity and disapproval from Isuelt." "Deal?"" A cockeyed grin erupted onto her face." "I'll forgive you for going off and letting all of us think that you were dead and you forgive me for calling you on it and trying to kill you.?" If one couldn't find humor in the tragedies of Rhydin, then one's life was nearly forfeit, right?"

Jewell had to laugh at that and run her hand discretely over her eyes. "Of course it's a deal. I don't think you could have really killed me anyway and all," scoffs a bit, "I already beat death once you know.?"

She chuckled and let her grin widen until it enveloped her countenance and sparkled past her tears." "That you did.?" She sniffed and squeezed Jewell's hand, further marveling at how this virus of Renna's had affected her ability to process emotion."

She smiled a little but she was still eyeing her friend, feeling a little unsure. "Are you sure you're okay with this" I really do understand if you're upset with me...and are you okay now" Cause you don't look sick anymore." She was just bursting with questions, apparently."

Isuelt's dark head nodded as she backed away from Jewell and sat down on one of the small couches in the dim room." "I'm okay." I'm okay about everything." Well...sort of.?" She bit her tongue and decided to stick to the basics." "Renna." It was Renna." Some sort of virus she engineered, or something.?" She still really didn't understand the workings of it like Batten did." "It just...left me feeling rage." Absolute and unreasonable rage.?"

Jewell took it as her cue to take a seat as well, facing Issy. Her brow creased at Renna's involvement. "But you're better now?" Chews the inside of her cheek, remembering a few different situations, "And rage doesn't sound so bad I guess. Coulda been worse with like...lust." She teased her friend with a grin."

Oooh, there was a curious closed-lip smile that leaned into her biting her bottom lip for a moment." "Yes, much better now.?" She side-stepped Jewell's tease for now." "Really a lot better.?" "

Jewell's blue eyebrows shot up at Issy's smile, but right after their reconciliation didn't seem quite the time to press the matter. "Well good." She dug the toe of her shoe into the floor a little, "And uh," she cleared her throat, "sorry it took so long for me to come over here, you know."

"I've actually only just returned here in the last day or so.?" A deep breath." She figured she'd volunteer the information, rather than wait for the question soon to come." "I was across the street, actually.?" Her chin wagged toward the western wall of the small room." "Batten's place.?"

It would have been completely out of character if Jewell could have controlled the grin creeping up on her lips, "Oh. So you just took all your rage out on him before coming home?""

Her tongue ran over her teeth as she swallowed and grinned, her head bowed." "No.?" Though she couldn't help but chuckle." "He saved my life." Well...Ed and Renna saved my life, as it turned out.?" She swallowed again and sobered her expression (though it might have taken a bit of effort)." "Ed said that I was dying." And it was this virus that actually repaired was was wrong with me." He said that if this hadn't happened, I might have been dead before the year's end."

That brought her up short and killed her grin. Issy...dead" Sure, it was always a possibility in the fight against the Bhaalites, but Jewell had clearly never considered it before. Suddenly, she had a feeling of what it may have been like when Issy learned that Jewell had died. A shudder ran over her body, but she tried to sound light-hearted when she responded, "Well uh...I guess I owe Ed a thank you at least." She had a long enough history with Renna, though, that this probably evened the score."

"Yeah." We both do.?" Yes, there was a smirk back on her lips." "But as it stands now, I feel better." In fact, I feel better than I have in decades.?" She shrugged, "Like...I'm awake." You know?"" Those dark eyes looked up to Jewell."

Jewell bit at the inside of her cheek. The problem was, she didn't really know. She'd been trying to wake herself up for a while now, but her attempts were half-hearted at best with so-so results. She couldn't get herself out of the funk she had been in since her magic was gone. "Well, that sounds like a good thing...especially the not-dying soon part. Sounds like you're ready to get back out there and make some heads roll.?"

"I am," she sat up straighter." The invigoration that Isuelt had coursing through her veins was the exact tonic she needed to boot her out of her stupor." "Everything's different now...?" She trailed off as she studied a tapestry on the wall." "Everything's....very different.?" Blinking, seeming to remember herself, she looked back to Jewell with a smile." "Are you okay?" I know I've been a bit out of it lately, I want to make sure everything's okay with you.?"

Jewell nodded her head slowly at Issy's comment about things being different. They certainly felt different, but perhaps not in the way Issy meant. She had allowed herself to drift off on that line of thought, grey eyes snapping back to Issy with her question. "Okay?" She laughed lightly, "Oh yeah." She waved her hand, "Boring actually. I've been training again though, thought maybe I'd join you out there again...if you needed help that is.?"

Slowly, the look on her face took on a veil of sheer blessed gratitude." "I would love that.?"???"I would absolutely love nothing more." This is your city, Jewell, more than mine." It would be an honor to fight for it along side of you.?"

"Really?" Jewell seemed so eager to jump at this opportunity that she had in fact presented. It was redemption and grasping for sanity all mixed together. It was something to do besides sit and waste away. "I mean...I just didn't know if you would want or even need my help. And I'm not strong like I used to be," she was close to babbling, "but I think I can still help.?"

Espresso-hued locks bounced as she nodded." "Of course.?" Then a thought." "Who's training you?""

Jewell was practically bouncing in her seat now. There was just the surge of ?"?"'ohmotherofnature thank you for not letting me screw this up like I did with Stephen.' "What' Who' Oh! My knight, Ishmerai. I kind of bullied him into it. But I've also been dueling more too, just for the practice." "

"Duels...?" Okay, this would explain the bruising she thought she had seen on Jewell in the weeks past." "Good." I'd love to come down there and support you." I'll even bring my rowdiest cat call.?" A grin as she leaned against the back of the couch." "If you and Ishmerai ever wanted to swing by here for an afternoon, we'd love to have you." Do a little scrimmage of sorts.?"

Some of the bruises, even those covered by her sleeves right now, just may have been self-inflicted, but Jewell would be the last person to admit it. She wasn't even thinking of it at the moment, just grinning, "Oh that'd be perfect...the duel support and the scrimmage. Ishmerai says I'm horribly out of practice, and Harris doesn't seem to think I can take dueling seriously. So it's time to prove them all wrong.?"

"Eh, f*ck Harris." I know you got more than a little pop behind that punch of yours, so go give 'em hell, Jewellsie.?" She winked to her friend as they settled into the more familiar routine of their relationship."

"Well.." her grin was so wicked, "that's always an option, you know.?"

Isuelt had to sit there for a moment, thinking of what part of her sentence went with Jewell's answer." Took her a while, but her eyes lit up." "You're f*cking Harris!?""

"What!?" Jewell actually turned really red, "I didn't say that! I just said," she fumbled verbally, "I just meant...well."

Up went those brows, "Jewell?"

She cleared her throat and tried to get the extreme blushing under control, "I just meant that if the opportunity presented itself, let's just say I probably wouldn't pass on it.?"

"Really?"" Her grin was infectious and as she leaned forward, she continued, "You know what?s weird is that one of those kids of his runnin' around here was yours." You know, when everything was a little crazy.?" Regarding her friend for a moment." "Actually, you two would make a good couple." Only two people I know around here with blue f*cking hair.?" A split-face grin.?

Her grin was a little hard to keep up with the mention of Sapphire. There was a little twist to her at the thought of the girl and the non-existent relationship she represented. "Naturally we'd be awesome together. But," she shrugged a little, "probably not happening and I'm not one to wait around so."

There was so much more for these two women, these two friends, these two comrades to discuss that their reunion was sure to go on late into the evening.