Lydia died?

[MartyrSaint]

Should I start a new character?

[steventirey]

You could just find another follower to use instead of Lydia. Most companions in Skyrim can die.

[toasty frosting]

You could replace her with Redhead Lydia, Really Expensive Lydia, Dual Wielding Lydia, or one of several Male Lydias. Valdimar does not count, he is a mage.

[Von Faustien]

max out conjuration and use dead thrall should fix the issue

[Skumboni]

Did you drag her up to the forge to burn like Kodlak?

[KillThrottle]

Not unless you're dead set on having Lydia as a companion, in the grand scheme of things she's just one of the companions and albeit, the easiest of the companions to obtain. Just do some solo play for a while and you will come across a variety of companions. Another easy one to get is the Falkreath housecarl Rayya by becoming Thane of Falkreath. Hope this helped

[Skumboni]

Do the East Empire quest on the Windhelm docks and you can get a female legate for a follower. I Use her for one of my house stewards, but she comes armed and armored.

[Insomniac Jack]

Become a master necromancer and keep her as a portable container (in more ways than one).

[Mugiwara]

Or you reload an old save from when she is still alive. Surely better than restarting.

[Insomniac Jack]

Originally posted by Mugiwara:

Or you reload an old save from when she is still alive. Surely better than restarting.

reloading is for cowards, real men live with their consequences. When I accidentally suplexed Lydia, tears went down my eyes - but I did not cry...

[Seth.]

Originally posted by MartyrSaint:

Should I start a new character?

...take a mod "Cheat Room" hawe spel to revive everything.

[kharille]

F5, F5, F5, F5, F5, F5, F5,

[Blaquicat]

Thats why my Lydia stays home..

[SpeedFreak1972]

Who cares if she died I mean she's not the only follower nor House Carl