Moriendor, what skills and weapons do you have? I found some areas very difficult without the better weapons in Ch2.
As for skills I got no combat skills (I only got lockpicking 2, pickpocketing, alchemy 3). I only put some points in strength. It's at 35 now (and I have a +3 ring so 38 really). I have been saving up LPs because I want to become a mage once I finally pick a faction. I got 90 LPs saved up "in the bank" for that.
My weapon is a err... I'm playing the German version so I don't know what it's called in English... "noble sword" maybe?
I think it does 42 damage or something like that. Before that I fought with a blunt, spikey weapon that looks like a mace for a long time. And I got a shield, of course.
As for Fred: As far as I can remember, a summon skeleton scroll can be found in the ruins at the W/NW coast and another one in the ruins to the East (where that one Gyrger is dwelling in the basement). I think there may have been at least one more but I can't remember the location (probably another ruin with skeletons somewhere).
If you keep Fred healed he's going to be a permanent companion. There is no timer or anything. Fred will follow you just about anywhere. He's just not good at climbing but you can tell him to wait for you and then pick him back up later after you're done exploring.
If Fred gets hurt you can easily heal him by just saving and reloading the game
. Alternatively, you can tell Fred to wait here. Then run away from him, out of his line of sight, return and voilá Fred is at full health again. Fred will not heal over night if you sleep so you'll have to use one of the above two tips to heal him (w/o using up a valuable healing scroll).