Of Spiders and Doves

FANDOM: Game Of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire
PAIRING: Tyrion/Sansa
RATING: PG-13 (For now)

SUMMARY: Sansa is a sneaky little rat who finds out about her wedding in advance and Varys takes an interest in her because of it. Or something like that.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I liked the idea of Sansa being tutored under Petyr Baelish ... sort of. The idea of Sansa being sneaky and etc is a very good one. But really, I feel like Sansa would like Varys better. Given that he s a eunuch and she s terrified of sex and all. It should be noted that Sansa is completely out of character in this fanfic. Just because I decided I liked it that way.

When Sansa s father had died at Joffrey's command, that was the first time she knew with certainty that King s Landing was not safe. But it was the day after, when she and Joffrey were alone on the battlements, that was the first time he'd had her struck. She knew then that being alone with Joffrey was dangerous. So in defense, Sansa had made it a point to be out among people all the time. They didn't like her, because she was the traitor s daughter. She suffered their scorn and their whispering, but she took it. Because being caught alone by Joffrey or the Kingsguard would be worse. Or so she had assumed. Then the news of Rob s victory over Stafford Lannister had come.

That day in the yard had proved her wrong. Being around people was not a deterrent for Joffrey. Having the court as an audience had pleased him. What he did to her would serve as an example, in his mind. And the people of the court did not care. Their presence would not protect her. Save, perhaps, for Lord Tyrion, but that was when he was the Hand. She wasn't sure anyone had both the power and the will to stop Joffrey from torturing her any more.

A crowd had not helped her, and being caught alone would be just as bad. The only other option was to not get caught be her betrothed at all. This had been a tricky endeavor for a few reasons. As the King s betrothed she was expected to be at court every day, and near the front within his sight. When court dispersed there was nothing she could do to get away fast enough without attracting notice, and so she often suffered then. And of course she could not ignore a direct summons from the King, so if he called then she must do as bid.

It didn't take long before she'd started taking more measures to hide herself, instead of just taking the more deserted pathways to her destinations. She'd gone out of her way to find the more obscure ones, some that she even believed hadn't seen traffic since the Targaryen years. She'd carefully examined every room she frequented, and little hidden departure ways made themselves known after a time. After court ended it was easy enough to get lost in the crowd for just long enough that she could disappear through some hidden side door without notice. She dare not do it very often, but on a day that Joffrey was mad, and hoping to take it out on her, then it was safest to disappear fast.

Then there was the matter of the King s summons Sansa did not fear those coming at any random time any more. For the King to summon her the messenger had to find her first. More than one messenger had gone back to Joffrey empty handed after searching for her, or so she d heard, and they'd ended up with a beating in her place. She felt a little guilty about this, but not very. She knew that it would have been her instead, if they had found her. Of course after a few days of this Joffrey would send a messenger the night before or very early in the morning, when she was sure to be in her room in the Maidentower.

"My dear, if I didn't know better I would say you were avoiding me." Joffrey had said to her, menacingly, when he d finally caught her once. After she'd evaded him for nearly a week.

"Your grace, my beloved, I would never." Sansa protested quickly.

He had not believed her. Her legs were beaten bloody that time. So that she could not go wandering afar. It was certainly effective. She d barely managed her trips to the sept that morning and the godswood that evening, taking the most direct routes to each. They were a trial, and she'd limped the entire way. She did so quietly, and with as much grace as possible while limping, but within full view of the court. To please her beloved so that he might let her alone.

One of Sansa's favorite pastimes, once she'd discovered the secret passageways of the Keep, was to explore. She had loved to do this in her first days at the Keep as well, having never seen such a splendid looking castle. The Keep, although it s inhabitants were wicked and cruel, was still a small source of wonder to her. Her belief in beautiful stories was fading fast as her time in King s Landing drew out, but the Keep still called to her as a castle out of a tale of knights and maidens.

Once she was branded a traitor s daughter she dared not explore at all, bitterness and fear had stayed her feet. But with the secret pathways she could wander the Keep and find all new rooms and things without fear of being seen or mocked. It was a small joy, and she didn't have a lot of time for it, but it was there. It gave her comfort that some part of being in the Keep was still pleasant.

The happiest moment in her life, in recent memory, had been the day the townsfolk had urged King Joffrey to renounce his engagement to her and marry the beautiful Margaery Tyrell. Margaery Tyrell, who had good standing in the south and a rich family behind her. She was a much more profitable marriage for him surely. It had taken all of Sansa's will power to appear stricken by the rejection. She'd sobbed that night, tears of unfathomable relief. She'd slept soundly too, safe in the knowledge that Joffrey would not ask her to dine with him the next day, or call after her in any way. She could spend the entire day exploring the Keep to her heart's content, no longer required to show up at court or appear for any meals or to go on any more outings with the King. Six days of pure bliss followed Joffrey and Margaery's engagement announcement. She'd explored every bit of the Red Keep she could find, and that was quite a bit since she d recently discovered there were underground tunnels that connected all the buildings.

Then Margaery Tyrell had called on her, and told her some news that was even more wonderful. Sansa had been wondering, since her betrothal to Joffrey had been dissolved, what might become of her. Now that she was no longer attached to him she suspected she was a hostage proper in King s Landing. She was to be held as a bartering tool for peace with Robb. But Lady Olenna had given her a completely different path. One that led to being a beautiful southern lady, just like she'd always dreamed of when she was a child in Winterfell. A marriage to Willas Tyrell would make her the Lady of Highgarden. It sounded like a dream.

That's what made Sansa take pause. It was too perfect. It might've been from her dreams, or one of those beautiful stories. Of course Willas was a cripple and a bit older than she, but if he were anything like as beautiful as his siblings than what would that matter? All of this perfection struck Sansa was a paranoia that came on so fierce she'd been tempted to lay in bed all day, just to wait for the other shoe to drop.

Instead she decided to go and explore again. Some new place this time. She'd discovered that some of the rafters in the halls of the Holdfast had hidden walkways when she was there last. Some place up high, looking down on everything and everyone, somehow it appealed to her. Where she'd ended up, and what she d heard That surprised even her.

The chamber that the small council met in was dark, with a highly vaulted ceiling. What most people did not know, was that it also had hollow walls. Not at the base mind you, but nearer the top the walls had been imperceptibly widened. And if one was clever, or lucky, or diligent in their exploring (all traits Sansa felt she had at the moment) one could find the walkway through the Holdfast that led into them. Sansa hadn't meant to spy on anyone in her exploring. She'd once or twice stumbled upon a private conversation, but her upbringing had caused her to disregard them.

She wasn't ignorant of the use of a hollow wall though. She d stumbled upon a spying nest of some sort. She'd explored the corridor fully and had every intention of clearing out, but something stayed her feet. People were flooding into the room, she could hear their voices. There were little slits in the walls where she could just barely see through. The council was trickling in. She dared not reveal herself or her hiding place. So she was stuck until the council was over.

The council was both boring and fascinating all at once. She carefully eyed everyone who was there as they all talked in turn. Discussing the happenings in the north, what they thought Robb would do next. They discussed the Greyjoys, who had declared themselves royalty as well now. Her aunt Lysa, and a scheme to involve her in a marriage was also mentioned. The way in which all of these things were discussed was very dull, but the information was intriguing. More so because she knew she was not meant to hear it.

Lord Tyrion was appointed Master of the Coin for the palace, and there was a small dispute over the past quarreling of the Lannisters, the Dorne, and the Tyrells as they discussed guests of the royal wedding. It sounded quite scandalous, but Sansa wasn't brushed up enough on their house history to know. After a bit more discussion of the war, and some about foreign affairs, and the situation in the north at the Wall, the council seemed to be breaking up. Sansa thought this a good sign, but all the Lannisters stayed behind at Lord Tywin's request. As the rest of the councilors left Sansa could swear she saw Lord Varys cast his eyes in her direction, but if so it was so brief she didn't believe he d truly seen her.

It was then that things got nearly too interesting for Sansa. The four Lannisters squabbled a bit over Lord Baelish, over how well he could be trusted with the Vale. She learned more of the man than ever she wanted to know. How he'd sold out her father, secured the Tyrells in alliance to the throne and-

"Only yesterday he brought us word of a Tyrell plot to spirit Sansa Stark off to Highgarden for a visit, and there marry her to Lord Mace s eldest son, Willas." Sansa heard Lord Tywin Lannister say. She knew then what she d known when she d received the news. She would not be allowed to marry a Tyrell. The conversation turned away from this for a moment, to Queen Cersei, but Sansa didn't care about that and could barely hear it through her anxiety. Although Sansa was sure the queen s protestations of another marriage could be heard across the Keep.

It wasn't until the queen stormed out of the room that they got to the topic Sansa was interested in. What plans had they for her?

Lord Tywin intended for her to marry the Imp, she found out just a moment later. There was a bit of protestation from Lord Tyrion himself, but she knew Lord Tywin was not one to back down from a decision he d already made.

"His Grace the royal pustule has made Sansa s life a misery since the day her father died, and now that she is finally rid of Joffrey you propose to marry her to me. That seems singularly cruel. Even for you, Father." Sansa had never heard a statement she agreed with quite as much as that one.

There was a some discussion of the point before they drifted off topic, going on to discuss Robb's marriage. Sansa felt herself slip to the floor, her knees no longer willing to support her. Her vision of Highgarden, what little she'd allowed herself, was crumbling before her eyes. She was not to be Lady Tyrell, taking lessons on how to be a lady from the fierce but kindly Lady Olenna. They intended to make her a Lannister.

"You will marry Sansa Stark, Tyrion. And soon." Was the last thing she remembered hearing.

A/N: Soooo, what'cha think?