http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Repairing_the_Phial
As read here, it says,"This quest can only be started after gaining full access to the Throat of the World during the quest of the same name."
Well, I haven't even completed Dragon Rising. I'm not even playing my game with dragons yet. So I CERTAINLY haven't gained access to the Throat of the World.
My MAIN concern is that it says,
"If you have already met Paarthurnax during the quest The Throat of the World, a few days after the failed attempt to help Windhelm alchemist, Nurelion, realize his life's ambition, a courier will seek you out with a letter from Quintus Navale who is determined to save his master's life. Head to Windhelm and locate The White Phial in the market district. In there, Nurelion will still be in his bed, coughing and slowly dying. Quintus, however, will be more than ready to explain what is needed to repair the Phial."
Seriously? So, does this mean that I have to KEEP the Cracked White Phial in my inventory and WAIT to return it until after I've reached those points in the game?
If I return it now, it's going to be hundreds of hours before I EVER reach Throat of the World quest/Paarthunax.
So what do I do? I'm afraid if I return it now, then a hundred or more hours later into my game by the time I reach the required point in the game, that the currier will never appear! After all, it says the currier appears "a few days after you return the CRACKED White Phial."