What Malory lacked in scenic detail, he made up for in action and characterization: some time later Merlin appeared before the king. "Sire," he said, "do you know that you must provide for the education of your child?... ....Your child is destined for glory, and I want you to bring him to me for baptism. Then I will have him entrusted to the care of Adoptive parents who can be trusted not to reveal his identity before the appropriate time would be suitable: he is extremely loyal, has good property and his wife has just given him a child and entrusts his child to another woman, and she will take care of yours." (332)This is a great example of how Malory uses indirect characterization to show that Merlin was wise, keen and farsighted and was loyal to the king. Not only that, but characterization can also help explain the plot, and the reader can predict what Merlin will do next, based on their judgment of Merlin's character from the last episode.