Sigrid reached the royal castle two minutes before the council assumed, it was a formal gathering where the king, his advisors and chosen nobles came together to make decisions on important matters of governance concerning the affairs of the kingdom and it citizens.
Sigrid had never attended the council before, in the past two months, she had visited the royal castle once and it was at the request of the queen.
It had been a short visit, the queen had asked her if she was heavy with child, she said no, the queen's mouth tightened in a thin displeased line and she dismissed Sigrid. The entire meeting had been rather uncomfortable for Sigrid, just as it was written in the novel, the queen only wanted Sigrid if she was useful.