Dear Wormwood

3. There Beneath

Elias takes off his boots and sinks his feet into the water. He watches the fireflies dance on the ceiling of the cave. The camera shows us a view from above and we are able to see the entirety of the clearing.

At 0:33 we come back to Elias, who is looking at the water. At 0:35 or so, the vocals start, and Elias looks up, startled.
The Willow appears to be lit up now, the singing echoing from inside the tree. It isn't so much that the tree is actually singing as it is communicating with Elias. Sharing a story. A prophecy.

"There beneath the willow tree
I learned a lot about the way of things
I learned that everything has breath inside
They were pointing ever east
To see the ever-turning aeon cease
Their wills were ever bent on waiting with all their might"

Elias stares in wonder as the tree sings to him. Only he can hear the voice. It was singing only for him.
The fireflies perched on the branches of the tree
(A melody that will soon be familiar begins around 1:35, and the leaves of the Willow rustle.)
Elias stands up as the drums take a single hit. The fireflies circle him and the water ripples. The Willow sings to him yet again.

"There beyond the palisade
I saw the morning lead a cavalcade
They made a marvel of a display
And it made me cry 'o lai'"

Elias watches the creatures surround him. He watches the pond in its excitement. The Willow seems restless. All of nature does. They seem ready for something to begin.

"There is beauty in the way of things"

As the Willow sings its final line, the fireflies fly away in all different directions, the water returns to its sleep, and the tree's leaves cease to glow and dance.

Elias is now slightly frightened, but knows what he must do. He's been given a prophecy that he must fulfill.
He runs out of the cave to his horse, abs the camera pans to one of the Willow's branches, where  a butterfly lands. The Willow sighs.