This is an old thread but I wanted to add my 2 pentacles
OK. So 5 of swords. Let's look at the moment before the three figures went apart. Two were battling each other. One person was standing near by and trying to figure out who will win. At the end the third person chose to follow the loser. Now, we do not know who was right or wrong in this battle. Maybe both were right, maybe both were wrong.... the problem is that the third person only showed pity for a person who lost. So to answer your question to what action to take: take the one that will make the third person follow you because you were hurt. No matter how nutty your fight was, no matter how unethical the other person is, if you win, you will lose the "judge", "friend", "respect of a child" ... your partner could be the Devil himself but if you win by turning into devil himself, you will lose.
Example: domestic violence case. Wife is abused for years but noone knows it. He is an outstanding father and provider. As soon as she walks away, she is pitied and the community is in shock at the man. So he begs for forgiveness and promises that he won't do it again. The wife doesn't believe him and proceeds with divorce. The community sees a repentant father and a wife who is evil and unforgiving and probably a gold digger. There are no winners unless you get the audience on your side!