So this basically just started happening for no reason, really late-playthrough, where I'll hit Esc (or Start on controller) and it just instantly goes straight to the desktop, no errors or warnings or anything, just *poof*. I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the game itself being broken, I think the save is broken for whatever reason. Because this happened really late-playthrough and I had my mod setup locked down for awhile. Sad that I'll have to retire a lvl 21 character and start a new one, I'll keep the file around in case I figure out a fix though. It might be gamepad related, but eh, I dunno.

Figured it out. It was something specifically to do with Bleak Falls Barrow. I dunno what it is, but oh well I guess I'll just have to run right through it. I've done Bleak Falls a million times anyway.

Good that you have solved your problem

My character, Geldor The Swift, lives on to fight another day!

Maybe the Steed guide you swiftly to your destiny!