OK, I need some advice from my fellow players here. I met Lydia very early in the game and to tell the truth, she really hasn't been that much help lately. On the other hand she is another warm body for enemy targets. I have entered the depths of Stillborn Cave and she has been killed by Falmer. Should I let her have a "good death" or should I reload a save? I will do whatever I get the most responses for. Thank you all.

Reload, get the Wabbajack, relevel her.
We can rebuild her, We have the Daedric Artifacts....(cut to Lydia sprinting)

How does the Wabbajac work for re-levelling?

At first, I tried to keep her alive. But when she died under a waterfall in a cave to a mass of bandits, I let her lie. I then embarked on many other followers. Janessa. Aela. Erik. Many others. All but Aela died (I released her then later took her again, married her and lost her when she glitched in the Tomb of Talos in Markarth). I ended that character with Aranea and she was by far the best follower I have had (including Jzargo).

So .. I say move on. Else, release her and leave her stuck in your home in Whiterun. She is your housecarl. She'll stay in the house if you release her. That way you can come back and get her later (and relevel her as bradleyh suggested).

Equip it. Then go out to the middle of no where. Save the game. Then release her. Then hit her with it. If she does not turn into an animal, then reload the save and try again. Once she turns into an animal, chase her down and then 'hit' her (unequip your weapons). She'll transform back into human. Then have her follow you again.

This. ^

...and don't go by what the people here say, because most will tell you to let her die. Too many people are annoyed by her "...carry your burdens." comment.

Ok...thank you for the instructions. So if I do this, she will re-set at my new level?

Thank you Buckom.....I respect your opinions

Yes. And if you like her, don't get rid of her. I admit she was very good to my character.

She is pretty good and I laugh at her "I am swoooorn to carry your burdens.." remark.

Yeah, she's tough as hell when you level her up. Speaking of remarks: she has a hilarious one that I've only heard once (I've been using Mjoll lately because her personality is so cute. ), but I may bring Lydia with me to a dungeon with a lot of female enemies here soon. She killed a female during the Potema quest (Solitude portion) and said something like: "That takes care of you, Lady.".

Her "...burdens." remark doesn't bother me either because I carry my own $***.

What's the deal with her and springing traps? I've been keeping her levelled which has made her tank in regular combat, but whenever she springs a spiked gate it takes her right to her knees, even though it does close to no damage to me and we have the same gear.

keep her. she's not too annoying, she's loyal, and she can be helpful in some situations. if you are in the DB, you can't beat Cicero for funny quotes, but levelling Lydia could make her a good ally. what console are you using, btw?

Are y'all both in Heavy Armor? Do you have perks in Heavy Armor?

Blasphemy. Cicero deserves to die for what he did.

I hadn't thought about that... and yes.

Cicero is funny, therefore he will live.
and how is that blasphemy?

He was a backstabbing charlatan, I felt he had to pay for what he had done to the Brotherhood. Of course I didn't realize at the time Astrid would soon stab me in the back as well.

I always reload. I also give Lydia the best swords and best armor I can find for her and this game she's wearing a necklace to boost her health...any other enchantments I can give her too like the enchanted ring. I also gave her my extra ring of water breathing and saw her switch to that when I'm using mine....deep sea diving, ha. Once I reach a certain level and she starts going down to one knee more often, I take her home to Whiterun and she retires from my service but she's still my housecarl. Then I usually travel with Argis the Bulwark but I've been thinking about traveling wtih Jordis this time. Both them have very high health and unfortunately, Lydia does not. I'll always retire my followers...hate it when they die.

right, i know he's evil. but how is the fact that i think he's funny blasphemous?
he fricckin' dances, even as a dead thrall!

I missed this one earlier. Thanks. I feel so pretty.

It's got to be the perks. You could probably test it if you have Smithing and Alchemy skills by using the Restoration Glitch to improve some armor for her that would be at or over the cap even it were on a mannequin.

Yeah, I had to kill him, too. He had the right idea, but he went about it wrong. It's a shame because I wouldn't have minded taking him with me every now and then - I've read his dialogue on Wikia and it is hilarious.

i usually just let my follower die. i will then take their helmet, enchant it with something so i can rename the helmet with their name and then put it in my room as a memoriam. 2 of my followers (lydia and jenassa) died during my journey and im now using the 3rd one (uthgerd the unbroken).

Death by Falmer is not a "good death." She should at least die in some valiant heroic Nord way defending the life of her Thane, instead of being punked by some miserable snow elves.

do what the other posters say but sheeesh don 't leave her to the falmers as bugfood she deserves better than that

exactly my thoughts. she's loyal, and she deserves better than being a snack for the falmer. she should die heroically, say while attempting to slay a dragon, not by a blind, devolved... thing. if you have pc, make her essential.

Either use the console and resurrect her or re-load, then setessential a2c8e 1.