Now that the Handless Maiden is married to the King, he has a pair of silver hands made for her.  She is very happy in her new kingdom.  It is not very long after they are married, that the King is called away to fight a war in a far off territory.  

The King asks his wise old mother to take care of the young Queen, and to send him a message if the Queen gives birth to a child. 

The Queen does give birth to a healthy baby, and the King's mother sends a messenger to deliver the wonderful news to the King.  

The messenger becomes overwhelmed with sleepiness on the way to deliver the message, and falls asleep at the river's edge.  The devil creeps out, and switches the message to say that the Queen has given birth to a child that is half beast.

The King was horrified to read the message, but sent a message back to his mother, saying to care for the young Queen and the child during this time.

Again, on the way back to deliver the message, the messenger becomes so sleepy that he must lay down by the side of the river.  

Once more, the devil creeps out and switches the message to say, "Kill the Queen and her child."

The King's mother could not believe her son would order such a thing, so she sent a message back to confirm, and back and forth, the messages were switched by the devil, the final one reading, "Keep the eyes and the tongue of the Queen to prove she has been killed."