Looks like you put a lot of work into this.
another option that you have is to go with self generating scrolls under his ears.
you already know that there are countless ways to design this...i like your design.
hope to be able to see the finished piece.
I think you have done a very good job with that design. By all means cut that. You'll always learn from doing it and think of doing it slightly differently tomorrow, but you're doing great for sure. Go with it. (my two cents... you could even have leaves coming off the flower stem that hang over your scrolls a little. I do a lot of hanging things overtop of my scrolls... I heard a wise man once say you want to have them overlapping at about 90 degrees, obviously crossing each other, otherwise it's hard to follow with your eye)