Howdy all. I'm new to the forums and just started playing the Hearthfire content a few days ago. I've done some research online and was able to find most of what I needed to know. However, I have a few questions that I either can't find the answers to, or the answers I can find seem vague and unreliable. So I thought I'd ask here. TIA for any help you guys can offer.

• Once I turn a follower into a Steward, can I recruit/hire another follower to go adventuring with me? Or does the steward count as my follower while (s)he remains on duty?
  
• I've built Lakeview Manor and have Rayya as my housecarl there. I notice that she patrols the property regularly. I was surprised to see this, as I thought protecting the house was the steward's job. If I get a steward for the house, will both of them patrol and protect the property? If so, will they work as a team, helping each other fend off threats?
  
• Just how serious are the threats, anyway? Is having just one defender (the housecarl, or a housecarl who is also the steward) enough? Or do I need to have a housecarl and a different NPC as the steward, so that I have two defenders?
  
• If an attacking enemy does kill whatever defenders I have, what happens to my house? Is it destroyed? Robbed? Dear God, will the childen be okay?!
  
• I feel bad that Rayya doesn't have a bed and never sleeps. If I build the bedroom addition, which will provide more beds than the children and I need, will the housecarl and/or steward use the other beds?

I know that's a lot of questions. For those of you kind enough to answer, thank you for your patience and for sharing your knowledge.

1. Yes you can get another follower. A steward does not count toward your follower limit while hired as a steward.
2. You can only have one steward for each house. It's normal for them to spend some time patrolling outdoors.
3. It depends on a lot of things. I've had a couple of giant attacks, a few wolf attacks and one bandit attack at Lakeview. The only things killed in those attacks have been cows and chickens.
4. Children are essential and cannot be harmed in any way, and they'll always flee from an attack. The house won't be destroyed, either.
5. I have built the bedroom wing at Lakeview, and have Rayya as my steward there. I've never seen her use any of the beds, even though there are enough for everyone.