Sneak around behind and stealth kill her?

I LOL'ed at that. I thought it had to be a trap. But no. Just a very VERY gullible mage waiting to get her throat slit.

I'm dressed in all ancient DB armor, dripping with the blood of all of your underlings and you BELIEVE ME when I say I'm just going to take those books and bolt? BWAAAHHAhahhahahhahahhahahah!!! Anyone else do this and find it equally amusing?

Haven't had any luck with that route so far. Both times I've done that quest, we've agreed to trade the associate for the books, but upon taking a single book she whips around and starts slinging spells.

I told that dude to scram... I've never had good luck with quest-given followers. But the Caller was surprisingly easy to convince.

I was having a really tough time with her. But then I realized until you take a book or attack her, she just stands there.

I was able to set up a rune, conjure an atronach, and then sneak attack her. Certainly gave me a leg up on the rest of the fight.

I've done this. Didn't know I could. But hey, she deserves it.

Especially since, straight-up, she's a pretty annoying fight.

Lydia and my atronach were equal to it. I just needed to keep myself alive while they killed her.