A little bit of context...
I was around level 10, had just finished the Companions quest line. I was too lazy to purchase Breezehome so I stored all my junks in the barrel in front of Warmaiden (little did I know, your stuff will despawn in 2days.... but that's a story for another day). Anyway, It was late at night when I fast travelled to Whiterun after doing some side quests. All the sudden Dawnguard quest triggered and vampires started to attack the town. Belethor was out that night and all the sudden he pulls Wuuthrad (which was stored in the barrel outside of warmaiden) out of his pocket and start beating down on the vampires. I was so stuned that I forgot to retaliate against the vampires. Fortunately, guards + Belehor = lots of dead vampires. I went to check the barrel after the fight and indeed Wutthrad was gone... From that day on Belethor walks around with Wuuthrad on his back like a boss...


P.S I can't "pics or didn't happen" because I deleted that save file... It was evil!

that is actually normal if an NPC is fighting it will get whatever weapon is handy .

I was in Whiterun recently and I dropped a mace on the floor. The young girl whose mum owns the stall picked it up for me and gave it back. So once more I dropped it on the floor. Again she picked it up but this time she just equipped it and walked away. I followed her and she was just wearing it like it was normal for her. Went into the inn, slept. Next morning she weren't wearing it. Buggered if I know where it went. Probably traded it for some Moon Sugar, junkie [censored].

I've seen NPCs picking up weapons lying around to fight but never from a container like that. Good stuff.

Imagine Belethor's surprise. He probably ran to the barrel hoping to maybe find some garlic to chuck at the vampires and suddenly spots the mightiest weapon of a legendary icon of Skyrim lore sitting in there like nobody's business.

I wa sin a certian Barrow once getting a specific enchanted axe from the last room in there.. the place and a nice draugr boss and some skellies.. one of those boneheads decided he was gonna pick up and use the axe against me.. i didnt help him any, nothing could really, i swear you could fart and kill skellies in Skyrim. (un-modded ofcourse)

Yep, I have had Draugr run to other rooms sometimes to pick up weapons dropped form previous kills. I always use that opportunity to lovingly fill them with arrows as they run to get said item.