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Turning now to the expedition from Doriath to Nargothrond, the only important structural difference from the Tale that emerges in the brief account in S is that Morwen (Mavwin) was evidently no longer present at the conversation between Nienor and the Dragon (II. 98–9, 129); on the other hand, it is said at the end of this section that ‘Some say Morwen released from spell by Glórung’s death came that way and read the stone.’

When Nienor-Níniel came to the falls of the Silver Bowl a fit of shivering came on her, as in the later narrative, whereas in the Tale it is only said that she was filled with dread (II. 101, 130). Very notably, the statement that Níniel was with child by Turambar was added to S later, just as it was in the Tale (see II. 117 note 25, 135).

In the foregoing I have only picked out points that seem to show quite clearly a different conception of the events in S from that in the Tale. I have not mentioned the many slight differences (including the very many omissions) that are probably or certainly due to compression.

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Of this section of the narrative there exists in earlier writing only the conclusion of the Tale of Turambar (II. 112–16) and the Tale of the Nauglafring (II. 221 ff.) in which the story is continued. The opening passage of S follows the end of the Tale of Turambar in Melko’s accusation against Thingol of faintheartedness, Húrin’s embitterment from the pondering of Melko’s words, the gathering to him of a band of outlaws, the fear of the spirit of the dead Dragon that prevented any from plundering Nargothrond, the presence there of Mîm, Húrin’s reproaches and the casting of the gold at Thingol’s feet, and Húrin’s departure. The words of S concerning the fate of Húrin derive from the Tale, where however he died in Hithlum and it was his ‘shade’ that ‘fared into the woods seeking Mavwin, and long those twain haunted the woods about the fall of Silver Bowl bewailing their children’.

From this point the source for S (or perhaps more accurately, the previous written form of the narrative) is the Tale of the Nauglafring. It is here impossible to say for certain how much of the complex story in the Tale had by this time been abandoned.