#askelaad

No one can ever convince me that what Askeladd did that day was merely kindness or mercy to the one person who stuck by him through thick and thin. It was very clear from the start of that scene that these men had a true meaningful bond and you can see it right at the start, right here:

Every time, EVERY SINGLE TIME, before Askeladd fights or duels...he holds his weapon like this: Behind his back/neck

Or like this

And I know what you're thinking.

"Of course he's holding it like that in those times. He wasn't as serious in those moments." EXACTLY. Askeladd took Bjorn's last duel so damn seriously. He didn't crack a single joke, try to make it like he didn't care or make Bjorn laugh. Not even a lighthearted jab about Valhalla or whatever the fuck. He didn't make light of it at all, when he would have in any other situation, even if his life was on the line.

And he didn't hold his weapon in a normal stance. It was a very specific stance.

And he doesn't move an inch. He's as still as a statue throughout Bjorn's words, and waits until the dying man makes the first move. Why? Because he needed to be precise. He needed his aim to be perfect. Because he had full 10000% intention of killing Bjorn in a single blow, to make it as painless as possible. And yet... He still missed.

How? He was so focused. He had positioned perfectly.

How did he miss?

I believe that a part of him really, really, really, REALLY didn't want to do this. And that part of him betrayed his aim. Because.... Bjorn was his one and only friend.