Sorry, Dear... No Mages Guild For You.

I've just started replaying Morrowind with yet another new character. I don't normally join the mages guild, as my characters are always either thieves or fighters (& I try to avoid the conflicting missions), but I wanted to teleport & it had been a long time since I'd been a part of the mages... So, I joined the guild & completed the first mission (gathering plants). Then, as was to be expected, I received orders from the Khajit mage who sent me flower-picking to place a fake soul gem on the desk of the loaded mage on the top floor (a mission I'll never forget from previous games, as it's a perfect opportunity to swipe a grand soul gem). For whatever reason, the game seems to have glitched the aforementioned loaded mage on the staircase leading from the 1st floor to the basement. I've tried everything short of stabbing her to make her move & waited over 2 full weeks (game time), but she just won't budge. As a result, my mission is in limbo & I can't advance in the guild. At all. It's not like I'm losing sleep over it or anything, but it's a little frustrating. I wonder if there's any way to attack her without being caught & kicked out of the guild...

Bethesda, you're lucky I love you.