The further adventures of Bilbo the Hobbit. (with my deepest apologies to JRR Tolkien)

Bilbo flinched as a crack of thunder echoed through the cave, inside it was dry so he crouched down on the sandy floor and gazed with a fixed fascinated stare the maelstrom outside. The branches of bushes flowed and raged like seaweed under a stormy sea, bits of wet leaves stuck to his face so he made his way further in and tried to get out of the currents of cold air as best he could. Merryon sat hunched only his eyes gleamed in the darkness.  lightening lit the cave like daylight for a second and Bilbo froze. In that second he had seen something move at the back of the cave, the darkness was suddenly unbearable and he stood ready his eyes desperately waiting for the next flash of light.
Bilbo's heart beat horribly and his legs gave way, at the back of the cave was a creature.
It looked like a queer sort of troll all twisted and gnarled. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dark Bilbo saw it swayed from side to side and made a queer sort of papery rustling noise.
Bilbo was terribly afraid and at that moment remembered his special birthday present, his Ring. he slipped it on and felt much better. He knew whatever it was at the back of the cave would no longer be able to see him or catch him.
''Bilbo Bilbo! cried Merryon in distress. ''please come back, do not be afraid, come back! a good friend of mine is here to help us''
''Good friend? thought Bilbo, perhaps that creature is no fell beast, maybe I have been too hasty. But he kept on his Ring and sat silently watching waiting.
Merryon lit a small candle and set it into a crack in the wall, a soft glow lit the cave. The creature unfurled itself and became much taller, it stalked forward on two brown knobbly legs. The top of its head was covered in moss and Autumn leaves, it held a shrivelled red apple in its long fingers. But its eyes were the queerest thing of all, they were golden and gentle and wild. Wild like wind blown flowers surviving on an Alpine meadow or on the salty sea cliff. It was the wildness of forgotten meadows and the wild rite of Spring. It was an Ent Maiden.