Not sure what I did, but I stopped by Riverwood to unload some loot, and as I walked out of the traders store, I was attacked by a guard. Then some women started after me as well. Was just the two of them, as I think the repeated dragon attacks on Riverwood have killed the rest of the guards. Either I accidentally shot someone during the last dragon attack, or they figured out that I lured the elf away and sacrificed him to Boethia. But I doubt they know that! I'm guessing it was the last dragon, as poor little Riverwood gets hit by a dragon just about every time I travel there.


Is there any way to appease the apparent lone guard? Or do I have to kill him to get any peace?

Raise your weapon and then sheath it again. He should put away his weapon and offer you the choice of paying the fine, going to jail or dying horribly.

Which like never works..

I got caught for killing someone (Brotherhood quest) and i sheathed my weapon and the guard stopped
Last night i got cought for pickpocketing (Thievs guild quest) and i draw my weapon and sheathed and the guard killed me

I must have shot a guard while fighting a dragon right in Riverwood, as dragons seem to always attack right in Riverwood. Sheathing my weapon has NEVER worked for me. Will try again though.

Here is a little tip. No matter how high your bounty is. Try run away in the middle of the act, run, sprint, horse.. use whatever possible.. Far away.. then wait a day or something and head back and the guard will do a dialog arrest with you..

Yeah, I had to assassinate that Orc bard in Morthal for the DB in front of witnesses. I had saved just before doing him in so I tried a few different tactics.

Everyone in the town wanted to kill me even though they hated the bard's terrible singing. Sheathing my blade still got me killed. So I had to run to that door before a guard started a dialog. I ran and ran. I waited a week or so. Guards in other towns were apparently oblivious that I had a huge bounty.

What did happen though was I had to slaughter several bounty hunters who must have been clued up about my Morthal crime.

I sauntered into Morthal one day, weapons sheathed. Several guards spoke their usual patter and there was even the one talking about "I took an arrow in the knee". One guard must have remembered my crime. He gave me the choices and I paid the fine.

So running works.