Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150715194939/@comment-26896471-20150909114839

Balgruuf sending his axe does  not mean 'I'm neutral, I'm on Whiteruns side'. He has already chosen to join the Imperials by that point. I've already explained at length how sending the axe can't be used as an example of aggression. Its done by both sides with the same intentions because thats how the quest system works. They run parallel.