She spawns as a corpse? I was hoping to learn she would be found alive there. When she died on me I went to a save. I went back 2 or the ranks to get her back.
Jordis the Sword-Maiden is the housecarl in Solitude looks just like Lydia with lighter hair. She doesn't have the annoying attitude when saying, "I am sworn to carry your burdons." which is good but this girl sounds like a robot.
Jordis the Sword-Maiden - The Elder Scrolls Wiki
She disappeared right as I entered Blackreach so I had to do the whole quest without her. After I was done I saw a message that said, Your follower got tired of waiting and went home.
So, I switched back to Lydia for a while but she is too gung-ho. Even if I tell her, "Wait Here" she will still come running into battle. She blows my cover a lot and gets in between me and the enemy a lot so my arrows or magicka hits her.
The two best are J'zargo and the Dark Brotherhood follower when it come to battle.