Skyrim:The Blessings of Nature

Quick Walkthrough
# Agree to help Danica Pure-Spring restore the Gildergreen.
# Head to Orphan Rock and claim Nettlebane.
# Return to Danica, who sends you to the Eldergleam Sanctuary.
#* (Optional) Escort Maurice Jondrelle to Eldergleam.
# Use Nettlebane to cut through the roots, then make a choice:
#* Activate Eldergleam to retrieve the sap.
#* Let Maurice pray to the tree and obtain a sapling.
# Return to Danica to complete the quest.

Detailed Walkthrough
The Gildergreen
thumb|right|''"It's a shame, isn't it?"
The only temple dedicated to Kynareth, goddess of air, wind, and sky, is located in Whiterun and is being maintained by priestess Danica Pure-Spring. Just outside the temple grows the Gildergreen, a tree planted in the earliest days of Whiterun and considered holy by worshippers of Kynareth. However, the tree was recently struck by lightning and has faded away, much to the dismay of traveling pilgrims and the citizens of Whiterun. Danica Pure-Spring, while willing to solve the problem with the sacred tree, has her hands full due to the civil war, so the tree is still dead. If you ask innkeeper Hulda or local bard Mikael for the latest gossip, they will both tell you about the state of the tree and point you towards Danica Pure-Spring. Danica can be found sitting underneath the tree every morning from 7am, trying to get someone to help her out; otherwise she will be in the temple tending to the sick and injured. When you talk to her, she will immediately complain about the situation, and explain what needs to be done to make it bloom again.

Nettlebane
thumb|"You'll have to deal with the Hagravens."''
The Gildergreen was grown from a cutting of the legendary Eldergleam, an ancient tree said to be thousands of years old, from before the Atmorans set foot in Skyrim. Danica claims that sap from the parent tree can be used to restore the Gildergreen to its former glory, but there is a catch. The Eldergleam can't be cut with a normal weapon, so you will have to deal with hagravens and claim the dagger they made to kill spriggans, named Nettlebane. Danica then sends you off to Orphan Rock, a hagraven nest northeast of Helgen.

As you approach Orphan Rock, you will find the surrounding area protected by four residing witches, two of them on the ground below the rock and two more witches near a camp further up the slope. They will attack you on sight and use lower-level destruction spells to keep you away from Orphan Rock and its unique treasure. The rock itself is accessed via a fallen-down tree stump and is protected by a single hagraven who will use fire spells on you. She can be difficult to deal with at lower levels, so it's advisable to try to kill the witches first before alerting her to your presence. Once you've disposed of the hagraven claim Nettlebane from the corpse, then loot Orphan Rock of valuables.

An Angry Pilgrim
Back in the Temple of Kynareth, Danica has received a visit from a traveling pilgrim, namely Maurice Jondrelle who is understandably upset about the current state of the Gildergreen and now spends his time bothering the busy priestess:

thumb|right|"What is it... what has happened to the Gildergreen?"
Maurice: "What is it... what has happened to the Gildergreen? I have traveled long here to worship beneath its branches." 
Danica: ''"It was taken by a lightning strike. Wish I had time to deal with it, but it's hard enough with all these wounded from the war." 
Maurice: "Please, don't just let it stay like this. It's disgraceful." 
Danica: "I really don't have time to deal with you right now. Please just let me get back to my work." 
Maurice: "But this is supposed to be your work."''

When you show Danica the dagger you acquired from the hagraven, she will be quite surprised but will refuse to touch it, leading to her asking for another favor. You are to travel to the Eldergleam Sanctuary and retrieve some of its sap. From his spot in the corner, Maurice Jondrelle will overhear the conversation and will quickly seek you out and ask if he can accompany you on the journey. He reasons that he always wanted to visit the tree of legend, so let him tag along for the ride. You can also refuse to let him tag along, but then you will miss out on some important opportunities later on.

Maurice is not your average follower and can't be given orders. Additionally, he is overly aggressive for an unarmed pilgrim and will attack any enemy you encounter, even dragons. Save your game when leaving the temple (or see notes), then travel towards the Eldergleam Sanctuary, located near the sulphurous pools and hot springs of Eastmarch, and slightly north from Darkwater Crossing. Do your best to keep Maurice out of trouble, then enter the sanctuary.

Eldergleam Sanctuary
The Eldergleam Sanctuary is a large, naturally-lit cave inhabited by peaceful followers of Kynareth and contains the legendary tree in all its glory, its roots twisting and turning across the chamber, effectively blocking the path to the tree itself. Maurice will be understandably impressed with the place but will be quite shocked when you pull out Nettlebane. Hack away at the four roots and watch them bend away from the path. When you reach the top, an important choice is to be made, as Maurice will walk up to you and accuse you of disrespecting a true miracle of Kynareth. You can either choose to hear him out, which will result in a peaceful solution – or you can choose to ignore him and use Nettlebane to extract the sap, and awaken the wrath of Kynareth.
 

Notes
One way to keep Maurice out of trouble is to travel to the Eldergleam Sanctuary before you speak to him, then fast-travel to the Sanctuary when he follows you.
Completing this quest counts towards the Sideways achievement, regardless of whether you bring Danica the sap or the sapling (i.e., quest stages 100 and 105 both qualify).

Bugs
 
 
This may be fixed by traveling back down the path after cutting the roots.
 
 This can be fixed by using the following console commands:   followed by  .
 
 

Quest Stages