Alvor keeps trying to kill me, can’t advance the story

I just started playing Skyrim yesterday.

I was annoyed enough by the opening cut scene that I didn't rush off to Riverwood as the game wanted me to, but instead ran around doing a little murdering and questing first.

I'm up to a level 6 wood elf who has a cool sword I found in a dungeon. I have murdered many bandits and others along the way.

But the time came to continue the story, so I went to Riverwood (or whatever it's called) to find Alvor. However, every time I approach the idiot, he and two others attack me! If I kill him, I'm allowed into his home with some Roman soldier looking dude. But the roman is boring, and I just end up killing him for being useless.

I have tried walking into the town without weapons drawn. And no matter how I run away and wait, etc, the jerk won't stop trying to kill me.

I want to get on with the story but don't know what to do after I am forced to kill the stupid hunk of meat. Nothing happens. I am able to get quests from other people in other towns, but I really want to play through the story.

I fear that I'm going to have to start a new character, and this frustrates me because I don't want to lose all my skills, my cool sword, etc.

Is there an evilness gauge or something that I need to bend the other way?