I put 2 followers Bigs and Wedge just in the first room of Helgen keep.
Use these Bigs and Wedge until you obtain Sven/Lydia or some other followers. ^ ^

Bigs is skilled with 1 Handed, Wedge is skilled with 2 Handed.
These 2 followers don't cast spells, instead I put all of the "Shouts" in their abilities including Dragon breathes.

So when they are not in melee range, they shout Freeze/Fire dragon breath and close the distance to the enemies.

To make them follow, use my "bat friend".