For what it’s worth, it sounds like that player would likely have been jumped by the large group regardless and you shouldn’t feel that it was a result of your actions or the other player’s kindness. But I understand and would have felt bad too!

And as much as I do enjoy PvPing (even though I’m still a newb potato), it does make me happy when people choose restraint with others who are questing, exploring, etc. I’ve had several such encounters in towns in Cyrodill some time before the event. Usually there’s a few moments of facing one another in a defensive posture and then unspoken understanding and we go about our business.