Ok, so Lydia died on me a while back. I just got the mission where I had to defend Whiterun from the storm cloaks and Lydia has appeared dead just outside my house. Is this a glitch?

You should pay attention where you post. This is the Oblivion forum but I have notified a mod

Edit: "was" I guess now

That's seriously embarrassing.

same thing on my other character happened to me, Ysolda is also dead, but I got something from her off a courier or something lol. random, i just reloaded a save once and this courier says she "left" me stuff, lol.
I don't know why, but they're both just laid there sparked out. Maybe a dragon attack or something?