My Nord was wandering through the wilderness near Riften a few hours ago. He had just cleared out a Bandit lair was was keen to sell the items back at the local town. Cresting a hill he stumbled upon Autumnshade Clearing. Known to me (but unknown to him) a large number of enemies descended upon him.

Two valiant warriors stood their ground. My Nord was hoping to be the dragonborn, but was unsure of what was required to be the chosen one. Beside him stood Lydia, housecarl of Breezehome, sworn to give her life to her thane. The creatures attacked hard and fast. The numbers were against them- 1 Spriggan, 4 Wolves, 2 Sabre Cats and 1 Troll. But the worst part was the time of day. Nightfall had descended across the land and they were very unprepared.

The battle raged for over five minutes. My Nord called on his Dragonborn heritage and used his fire shout. Lydia swund her fire sword with all her might. The Spriggan went down quick and regenerated her lifeforce and was back in the battle just as quick. My Nord consumed all his health potions and charged through the clearing while singing to Talos.

Eventually the sounds died. Lydia was nowhere to be seen. I waited until morning and used the morning light to discover her broken body. Unfortunately her fire sword went out of charges and I lost track of her in the battle. I suspect that she was on the other side of a Sabre Cat when I used my dragon shout....

My character sat upon the grass, stared at the butterflies and wept.

So, what should I do? Reload an earlier save and bring her back? Or let her memory be stored forever in the annuals of history?

I would like to know how you normally play Followers? Let them die or bring them back?

I guess that it would depend on the way you play. If you're going for as realistic as possible, then you should leave her dead. I usually do both. I try to make the experience as real as I can, with the exception of reloading when a companion dies. Attachment could also play a key factor in it. Everyone a particular follower that they're fond of. So naturally, most people just reload. Sort of a cheating death power that we don't have in real life. In speaking of death, if you're a necromancer with the "Dead Thrall" spell, you can resurrect Lydia permanently. She won't be the same mind you. She'll just be a shell without feeling. Also, don't forget that only the dead thrall spell will keep her from turning into ashes after she's defeated. If your character is the "good guy" type, I wouldn't go that route either as necromancy traps the resurrected's soul in their body, but it can only serve you. Kind of like slavery of the soul. Other than any of that, it's totally up to your style of playing. You could always make up a story about praying to the divines to bring her back or something. You can get really creative with it.

Yeah, I do agree there. Lydia had died earlier in a battle with three trolls. In each and every case it was my dragonshout that hit her while she she was recovering on the ground. The fire shout has a large AOE so I guess that I should be more careful. I just reloaded and kept going. This time felt it would be better to let her go (for realism) and grab Marcurio. Shame though, I was quite fond of her. Lol.

Something that I like to do when a follower dies, is to retrieve an item that they used such as a weapon or suit or armor, (That you give them, cause you usually can't take their default armor) and display it in my primary home. (Like on the mannequins and the weapon plaques in the larger homes.) It serves as memory of a warrior you died in your service.

Been playing the game since release and i've never lost a companion from combat. I know they can die from traps or falling off cliffs and or from your own blade, but usually when my companion gets beat down by a monster the monster stops attacking him/her before they ever die. I find that I have to turn off invulnerable NPC's in order for my companions to die in combat.