brainstorming #3 for "withering of the boughs" first initial

Brainstorm #3 is rather imbalanced I think, however it has two features that I adore. I feel that the final initial will somehow be a happy medium between brainstorms 2 & 3.

Brainstorm #3's highlights are:
1) The "moon" is off center. This was a complete mistake but it give the initial a rather rakish air that I find quite attractive.
2) The golden chain wraps around the moon and then extends down the short carrier. This one element clearly binds the theta and the carrier together effectively and elegantly without overcrowding.
3) The leafy plant is off to the side of the carrier. It helps add balance without actually being a literal part of the initial itself.

The problem - the boughs! These seemed a great idea at the time but they are just .. well ... they are just there. There seems no rhyme or reason to their existence. The boughs would serve better as accent imagery throughout the text instead methinks. At this moment they make the initial look rather haphazard which is not a desirable effect.