This has never occured to me. I don't think there is a quest related to this, but maybe you have harmed somebody of the "civilians" in this area as a side effect of a fight or spell. This could turn other NPCs on the map hostile. As you're playing a paladin I assume it's not a low reputation problem, which could also turn others hostile IIRC. You should go back to an earlier save or simply leave the area if you don't have to return there.
Good luck.
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I am not altogether on anybody's side, because nobody's altogether on my side, if you understand me...(Treebeard, The Two Towers)
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