Chris

Seeks like you're conflating power with luck in a lot these. Also conflating proximity to power with actual power. Varys and Tyrion had the ears of extremely powerful people, but they had zero control over any of them. It was never a Prime Minister sort of deal where they make the rules and play the important politics while the King plays mascot to the throne and takes all the credit. Sansa went through hell to get where she was, and she learned to play the game from the most ruthless players in it, but self-protection through cleverness isn't the key. Baelish, Olenna, and Cersei were influencing nations with their decisions. Baelish moreso than anyone. Sansa knew how to stay alive, sniff out enemies, and protect those she loved, but (barring the Northern influence she was born into), she was not shaping the landscape of Westeros or Essos in her image. Her hard journey getting there aside, it's not difficult to land Queen of the North when there's no one else in your family competing for the title and your little brother is the King of the other 6 Kingdoms and has the power to grant you that title. If Danaerys, Cersei, etc truly wanted Sansa dead, she would be! Same with Tyrion (luckiest dwarf on earth) and Varys (dead at the hands of the woman he was serving). I think most "powerful" might not be the best word. Roaches have managed to outlive almost every other species, but when power comes to mind in the animal kingdom, a roach does not! Danaerys had brute strength in dragons and blind ambition. Olenna and Tywin had charisma, strength of character, and more money than anyone else combined. Cersei had armies, no conscience, and nothing left to lose, and was feared by everyone for her complete disregard for life. Baelish had knowledge beyond even Varys and was an absolute genius manipulator and social climber. NONE of them served anyone else but their own agendas and wiped out anyone in their way at any cost. That's power!