Alton Lannister appears in season 2 of Game of Thrones. He's sent by the Starks to King's Landing to bring Robb Stark's peace terms.
After his arrival Cersei tears up the paper and sends him back to Starks' camp to deliver the crown's answer.
My question is: why did they send a Lannister, a member of their own family, back to the Starks, so that he could be their hostage? Wouldn't it be better to sent just a less important common sellsword or seriously anyone else but Alton?
This decision costs the Lannisters a life, cause Alton is later killed by Jaime, who wants to escape from the camp. If they sent another person, Alton Lannister would be alive and well.