Alica was preparing for her journey home the next morning. She had heard Lady Sansa and Lady Arya were to join her. Not to crowd the queen's carriage, Alica decided to ride with the Stark girls, to Cersei's pleasure. Alica knew it was for the better, she didn't want tensions between her and the queen to rise any further.
Alica was dressed for the day while her things were packed. She wore the same crimson cotton dress as she had arrived in, and put her hair in a braid for the long journey ahead. She put on her cloak and headed off, leaving the servants to finish her packing.
Alica enjoyed a nice breakfast with Catelyn, the two of them wishing each other well, for they soon would part ways. Alica would miss Catelyn dearly, it almost made her want to stay in Winterfell instead of returning to King's Landing with Cersei. She knew that wasn't an option, but she remembered that once Tywin intercepted Lysa Tully, she would be home, a place that was even better than Winterfell.
"Lady Lannister." A servant boy said, holding a piece of parchment. Alica took a
parchment from the boy's hand and read it. It was from Tywin. Lysa had long been at the Eyrie, and knowing the Eyrie's history of being impenetrable, Tywin would use spies to infiltrate it instead of soldiers. Catelyn read the message over Alica's shoulder, gasping and standing from her seat.
"What is your husband's business with my sister?" Catelyn snarled.
"Lady Lysa sent an assassination threat directed at me." Alica explained. "I didn't want Tywin getting involved, but he didn't listen to me."
Catelyn remembered the raven she got from Lysa last night, it seemed plausible that she would do such a thing to Alica. Catelyn sat back down, though her glare did not leave Alica.
"I want you to know that Lysa sent me a raven about the Lannisters being behind Jon Arryn's death." Catelyn explained quietly. "I would be very careful. You may be innocent, but you are Lady Lannister, people will use you, and they will hurt you. Even your own."
"I know." Alica told her.
"Good." Catelyn said. "I would much rather you stay in Winterfell than go to King's Landing, but that's not my decision to make."
"I would rather stay." Alica said. "But King's Landing is closer to Casterly Rock, it will be easier for Tywin to reach me in King's Landing."
"I suppose his grace will keep you safe if he wants your husband to keep giving him money. Do not worry, Alica, if anything happens to you, you still have many friends in the north." Catelyn said with reassurance. Alica smiled.
"Thank you." She said.
"Also, promise me you'll help keep my girls safe." Catelyn said. Alica nodded. "They've never been south before, and we have not many friends there besides the king."
"They will be happy in King's Landing, but I promise." Alica told Catelyn.
Later, Alica said her last goodbyes to Winterfell before leaving in a carriage with Sansa, Arya, and Septa Mordane. She sat next to Sansa, with Arya and Septa Mordane across from them. Alica took out her sewing, and Sansa did the same. Arya rolled her eyes, she remembered when Alica wasn't such a silly lady, but more wild and spirited. Arya thought it was Lord Tywin forcing Alica to be this way, which while was far from the truth, it sounded good in Arya's mind.
"What are you sewing?" Sansa asked Alica.
"A blanket for my baby." Alica replied as she worked on embroidering gold thread on the red cotton. Sansa smiled.
"Is Lord Tywin kind to you?" Sansa asked.
"Probably not." Arya scoffed.
"Arya!" Septa Mordane said. "That's rude!"
"And it's not the truth either. Lord Tywin is very kind to me." Alica said.
"Really, then why did he marry you when you were just a year older than me?" Arya asked. "I mean, he's so old, and he had a wedding night with you when you were twelve. There's something very unkind about that."
"Arya!" Sansa yelled in shock.
"That's not the truth at all." Alica explained calmly. "I will not get into anymore details than that."
"Does Lord Tywin love you?" Sansa asked.
"As his wife and the mother of his child. No more, no less." Alica explained.
"Do you love him?" Sansa asked.
"Very much." Alica told Sansa. She noticed Sansa's floral pattern on the purple silk she was embroidering. "What are you making?" Alica asked.
"Oh, a dress for King's Landing. There's going to be a tournament in my father's honor when we get there." Sansa said.
"It looks beautiful." Alica said.
"Thank you." Sansa replied with a smile, as if she had gotten the best reassurance in her life. "I can't wait until we get to King's Landing. I've never been far outside of Winterfell, and it'll be my first time in the south." Sansa explained.
"I think you'll find King's Landing to be very fascinating." Alica told Sansa.
"It had better be." Arya said. "Also, if you think you'll get me into one of those silk dresses, think again."
"You will do it to respect the queen, and you will wear your hair differently too." Sansa said.
"I don't like the queen." Arya said.
"Why not?" Sansa asked, annoyed with her little sister.
"She's a Lannister." Arya said.
"Alica is a Lannister." Sansa said.
"Well, at least she's from the north, and I don't like her either." Arya snapped at her sister. Alica couldn't help but laugh.
"Arya." Septa Mordane said. "Apologise to Lady Alica right now."
"Sorry." Arya said with a sigh.
"I have to tell you something, at first, I didn't like the Lannisters either." Alica told Arya. "You acclimate to their ways, and eventually assimilate."
"I like the Lannisters just fine." Sansa said. "They are so wonderful."
Arya and Alica exchanged looks, both of them trying not to laugh.
"Wait until you get to know one besides Alica." Arya said.
"Well, you know the Lannisters as well as I do, yet you're so negative." Sansa told her sister.
"I'm not negative, you're naive!" Arya yelled.
"Arya!" Septa Mordane scolded. "Stop this right now. We are in front of Lady Lannister, and you do not need to make yourself look bad by shouting."
Alica couldn't help but smile when she was called Lady Lannister. It seemed the north accepted her as a Lannister more than the Lannisters did.