So, here we are. The mystery, at least for now, quieted. The king is mostly happy. His daughters are happy. Everyone seems happy, excepting those guards and the prisoners under their watch, but you can't win them all. And what is this? It seems we've at last come full circle. Indeed, we are now where the tale began.
The king is about to rest and that means he is about to be pulled into his nightmare. One that will have him screaming at the end, but we will not be staying. Instead, we are going to move the clock forward, I do so love this power, and return to the graveyard. It is now well into the next night and there is no one about.
The evening lies in stillness and even the animals have taken to their beds. It's a night unfit for all but the most dedicated of night-owls. But since we're here, why not look around? Specifically, a group of trees that rustle due to the interference of a figure breaking through. It is Samuel, and he is carrying a shovel.
He moves out of the shadows, up to a familiar grave which has been stripped of its green carpet by the fire and its marker has suffered a similar fate. He raises his shovel and plunges it into the dirt, scooping out a heaping mound as he really starts in on the task. Being a vampire, he will not tire out as a human would, but that in no way makes the job less tedious.
Little by little, the pile of dirt grows in size, while the hole descends deeper and deeper. One final thrust and Samuel strikes something solid. He throws the shovel away, he won't be needing it anymore. He reaches down into the pit and takes hold of the solid object which he rips away from the earth. He rises from the depression and drops the coffin, that is his treasure, on the ground.
Using his inhuman strength he tears the lid open and drops it to the ground revealing the corpse inside. He looks down upon the woman in peaceful repose. The years have been long, but not much has changed, she is still a most beauteous sight to behold, though not so much that one would believe she's alive.
Samuel reaches into his pocket and withdraws a strange, glowing nail, which he drives deep into the flesh of the corpse's neck. It takes a few moments, but eventually, the metal implement brings life back to the corpse, who begins to stir. Her eyes open wide as she stares at the shadowed figure standing above her. She's about to say something, when the lid is placed over her and the nails driven back in place with his bare fist.
His quarry secured, he hefts the coffin onto his shoulder as though it weighs nothing and climbs out of the grave using only his free hand. Back on the top soil, the vampire brushes the dirt from his clothing before carrying on his way. He has what he's after and it's time for him to prepare as time is drawing nigh.