Current when exploring something where enemies automatically attack you they still have the same direction to low health normal people have where they duck low and beg for mercy.

If you stop attacking and put away your weapon though they jump right back on you and die every single time.

This is automatically trigged by low health. I imagine the actual script just puts them back to their default behavior which in the city is saying hi but in a dungeon is trying to murder you.

I see four things that could be done with this behavior to make it better.

1. They could stop doing it and just fight to the death. This is probably the easiest method and also probably pretty easy to mod in, however instead of adding to the game this takes from the game.

2. They could remain in a cowardly defeated position where they just beg if they talk to you even if your weapons are out until the area resets. I like this because it doesn't change much except for adding in a non lethal way to take down for "good" characters. This could probably be done with mods relatively easy since they already are in that mode until you put your weapon away.

3. They could continue to act the same but when they attack you again they could shout "tricked you". This one would be the hard since for the voices to match someone would have to use the same voice actors which would involve either very very good finds on sound files or bethesda to do it. Also it would get a bit silly the 50th time in a row it happens.

4. My favorite option is to mix in all of the above. Lets say if 1/2 of the enemies surrender at low health and among those 9/10 will stay in the current position until recent but 1/10 will yell "FOOLED YOU!" or something around those lines and attack you. This would involve the most work since it includes the last one and some scripting changes but I think it would make the most awesome feel for the battles.

Why not just finish them off?

If it was that simple then why do they bother surrendering at all?

The gratification of an easy finishing blow i guess

You should have a simple option to hit e and talk to them. Offer them mercy if they drop their weapon, or give them a dialogue like: prepare to enter Oblivion scumbag!

it adds flavor i mean your not going to let them get away are you? I like it my enemy is to weak to continue so they give up in some cases you can accept the yeild

I actually had a guy fall down begging for mercy, and in attempts to see a result to putting away my weapons he stood up and executed me. I will never accept a yield again >

yeah. But if he yelled "FOOLED YOU!" First it would of been cool at least.