He watches her rise.

From the lion`s den, from the consuming flames of grief, from all the cruelty she was forced to endure in that nest of vipers. From all the heavy blows and searing pains, from all the uncertainty and deceit. Above all, from the lies. Of course, ironical that he should think of lies and liars somehow detached, as if he wasn`t one of the best. 'The best' he murmurs a little haughtily, taking pride in how well he is able to manipulate others, to throw them blindly against each other, to play the Game of Thrones.

But there are other, even more demanding games to engage in. At least this is what he tells himself. That it`s all a game – a chess board with pawns and a skilled player to move them just like he wishes so as to win the match. Among the pawns, there might be, of course, some, or one to deserve more. But could there be a queen among the others? Would that be wise?

The answer is obviously no. But right now, as he is pondering the intricate details of the web he has woven, a girl turned to shell is breathing deeply the knowledge that she has to fight. She has what it takes to survive – patience, desire to learn by observing others, hiding in the shadows of innocence to preserve her life. He feels her darkening day by day, watches the pure feathers of childhood turn to more mysterious ones, prone to hide plans and secrets of their own.

He is proud of her. Sweet Sansa, moving to King`s Landing in order to marry her honorable and handsome prince, only to discover a deranged and vicious boy with a penchant for torment. Then to fall in love with the Knight of Flowers, who couldn`t care less about her girlish charms. Others might have found her naïve and annoying, a child who refused to grow up. On the contrary, he has always considered her endearing, at the same time noticing her strength and potential. Yes, there was definitely more to Sansa Stark.

'Sweetling' he smirks, remembering well enough how she tried to play him when he offered to help her go home, after her engagement to Loras.

She would be much more convincing now, after her quiet observation. It pleases him greatly to be observed by her, even as a study material. After all, he is no open book, but neither is she, as he is beginning to fathom.

Cat`s daughter. He wonders at fate`s irony, for despite his incessant plotting and scheming, it seems that life always has the upper hand. He is amazed at his own lauded ladder, his own unblinking chaos, for having created Sansa Stark, having shaped a queen of the ashes, different and special, set apart from all the others. Even from Cat. Because he sees now that he values this apprentice mockingbird for herself and what she has managed to accomplish in a world of liars, killers, monsters.

Day after day, she grows more perceptive, more sure of herself, perhaps even more beautiful. More. The little dove turned into a swan, with painted feathers of fiery red, pure white, inviting black and shining eyes.

Eyes that convey so much. He remembers the kiss they shared in the haunting snow and what he could read when they broke apart – surprise, unease, hesitance, sensuously mingled with a glimmer of pride on her face, for having made him let go of his controlled façade long enough to kiss her fully on the mouth. In spite of himself, he felt vulnerable for allowing himself such a step in the unknown. It is, after all, just like he told her on the ship.

'Everything'.

His reverie is suddenly broken, ice melting with the arrival of spring.

'Everything?' she whispers softly, smiling slightly, blue Tully eyes boring into his from afar, from a faraway place he could only dream of reaching.

'Everything that is worth risking everything to get it' he continues, as his traitorous mind suggests that there could be only one deserving of such a sacrifice.

'My lord…'. He frowns. 'Petyr, you speak in riddles. I`m afraid I can`t think of any such thing, hard as I try to.'

He smiles, bemused. Once upon a time, a few months ago, he would have taken her word for it. But now, she knows too much, sees too much to be oblivious to what he`s hinting at.

'Can`t you? You`ve been bold enough in the past to profess knowledge of what I want. Could you please enlighten me, sweetling?'

She knows for certain that not long ago, such an insistent yet subtle approach would have affected her, making her blush or linger to much with her eyes on the floor. But now, she`s just pondering over an answer to what he`s been silently asking her all along. It intrigued her immensely to be given such enormous freedom, for she was free to respond in any way she wished to, without having to hide behind a curtain of empty courtesies. He probably would have seen right through her anyway.

'My lord, you want to succeed in whatever devious goal you set for yourself – the North, the Iron Throne, any sort of political power. Please let me finish and do not object. I`m not blind anymore. You want it. Want to throw it in their faces, be it your intelligence, your skill or your ambition. And I need this too. Desperately. To make them for what they inflicted upon me, to have them at my mercy and not show them an ounce of kindness.'

He smiles fondly, aware that there is no going back to old Sansa now. She is too far gone, changed to her core. And he admires her for it.

'And you want me.

So don`t throw me away once you don`t need me anymore. Because I want to stay by your side while everything burns with war or freezes with winter.'

He kisses her then, harder this time, sealing a deal more sinuous and tempting than any other before. He would offer her roses, but she is no longer fascinated by their beauty. He would whisper comforting words to her, but the past only makes her want to carve a better future.

'As any other man, I can give you myself. I promise not to betray you, or dispose of you. We`ll see each other through this until the end.

And unlike most man, my beloved Sansa Stark, I can give you the world.'

She smiles then, wider, purer and more enveloping than any other promise.

This is my first Sansa/Petyr fanfiction. I appreciate any opinion or review. I think their relationship is the most interesting in the entire show and wish things could go this way. I can only hope!