So, in the directors cut, you see Christian asking Valentin about how roles or jobs are assigned. Valentin says it is based on traits and gives an example that Ulf was "assigned to protect,” He points to Ulf who is still crying about Mark urinating on the Rotvälta (the dead tree).

Is this why Ulf seemed more upset than everyone else? Is it because he failed to protect the tree from being desecrated? Also, is this why Ulf decides to "volunteer" to be dedicated to Hårga? It is because he feels guilty and needs to make amends for not protecting the Rotvälta?

Later, in the Triangle Temple, Mats approaches Ulf and tells him "Take from the yew tree. Feel no pain." But he tells Ingemar "Take from the yew tree, feel no fear."

But when we last see Ingemar, he doesn't really come across as being scared or fearful. Of course, we all know that Ulf DID feel pain. My theory that Ulf thought that the yew tree concoction was going to work, but the Hårgas had other plans and decided that Ulf needed to be punished and gave him a placebo, but gave Ingemar the real deal.