» Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:39 am
First of all, you're not asking because you brought her into Shalidor's Maze, are you? If you go to Shalidor's Maze, there is a rather annoying glitch that makes your follower stay in there. I'm not certain if it's patched away, but best to play with caution.
Otherwise, followers tend to appear right beside you after you wait, sleep, enter a new area, or fast travel. If you're just walking or running along, they might sometimes follow you from quite a distance. Sometimes, if you're navigating topography that's difficult and rugged, the follower may likely walk the safe path and longer path to get to where you're going... in which case, if it's too long a path, the follower may just materialize out of nowhere instead.
Follows also use the best available equipment in their inventory according to where they're skilled in. Lydia, would more likely choose steel plate armor... but Jenassa, more of a stealth character, would choose leather or scale armor.