I second NPC's that can be followers and companions. I and many others have suggested this in the past.

In the meantime, if you want to risk using mods, you can try the following:

- https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/1363
- https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/1045

Or whatever their equivalents are that isn't from NexusMods.