Merlin all but sprinted down the hallway to Gaius' chambers. Bursting the door open and effectively scaring Gaius, Merlin ran in, panting.
"Gaius…We have a small problem."
Gaius didn't look particularly surprised, used to Merlin having small problems all the time. He simply rolled his eyes and turned to his ward before asking the ever present question; "What did you do now?"
Grimacing at the thought of the scolding that he was about to receive from his mentor, Merlin took a breath and began to explain.
"I cast a spell a spell to finish my chores, but it didn't work and it knocked me out and when I woke I was called by Gwaine to the council chambers where Percival was dancing on the table and singing some strange song and now I don't know what to do!"
Gaius stared at Merlin in surprise, trying to comprehend what he had just said. It took a moment before things clicked in his mind. Sighing, Gaius sat down on his bench and looked disapprovingly at the boy before him.
"Merlin, how many times do I have to tell you-"
"-Not to do magic with my chores. I know, I know. But, that's not the problem right now. Did you not hear the part about Percival singing?"
"I'm sure that it will wear off eventually," Gaius stated before standing and beginning to work on his experiments again.
"It'll just…wear off?" Merlin couldn't quite believe that that could actually happen, but then again, it has happened before. So, who's to say that it won't happen again?
Merlin simply shrugged, too tired to think about and turns back out the door to begin his chores before it becomes even later than it already was. He already was in for one of Arthurs "scoldings."
Dragging his feet slowly towards the King's chambers, Merlin was still thinking over the strange scene that had played out early that day. The picture of Percival basically molesting the council table was permentantly burned in Merlin's mind. He was never going to be able to look at Percival the same way ever again…
Shuddering at the thoughts in his mind, Merlin stopped before the King's chamber door. Strange music was wafting through the doors. For a moment, Merlin was sure what was happening. But, then it clicked.
Eyes widening, Merlin threw the doors open and was greeted with the sight of King Arthur dancing around his room shirtless.
Hail Caesar shadow on my backseat
And her friends are standing right in front of me
Worldwide from the Cimmaron to Turkey
Open up, said everybody loves me
And you don't have to make a sound'
Cause they got what you need, what you need
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Got love for the people that have warned you
God love all your sentimental virtue
Eight balls with the takers that'll make you
Lay cards with the lovers that'll hate you
And you don't have to make a sound
They got what you need, what you need
Make you sayOh my, feels just like I don't try
Look so good I might die
All I know is everybody loves me
Head down, swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now
All I know is everybody loves me
Everybody loves me, everybody loves me
Without warning, the still shirtless king walked out the door and began to walk purposefully down the hallway. Merlin grabbed a random shirt from the wardrobe and ran after the King.
"Sire! You need your shirt!"
The King just turned around, walked up to Merlin and said: "I didn't ask for your opinion, Merlin!" He then turned on his heel and strutted down the hallway once more.
Merlin was irritated at the King's attitude, not really in the mood to dealing with it. Suddenly, Merlin's thoughts changed into the form of song lyrics just waiting to burst out of him. Music started playing and before Merlin could react or do anything to try and stop it, he was singing.
(Ooh) What you want
(Ooh) Baby, I got
(Ooh) What you need
(Ooh) Do you know I've got it
(Ooh) All I'm askin'
(Ooh) Is for a little respect when you come home (Just a little bit)
Hey baby (Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister (Just a little bit)
I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong (Ooh) 'cause I don't want to (Ooh)
All I'm askin' (Ooh)
Is for a little respect when you come home (Just a little bit)
Baby (Just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (Just a little bit)
I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my profits
When you get home (Just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah baby (Just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you get home (Just a little bit)
Yeah (Just a little bit)
Merlin found himself standing in the courtyard, George and other servants behind him, standing with their hand on their hips (like Merlin himself was doing), facing Arthur and his knights. He didn't really understand how he got where he was and he was sure that he was going to regret this whole thing later.
However, before he could ponder his fate any further, Arthur once again began singing.
Well I, pray the music, don't stop till I turn gray
Stars forever like John Sousa never fade
He had a beautiful child, named her Desiree
Hope I'm remembered for the things that I never made
'Cause you don't have to make a sound
When they got what you need
Make you say
Oh my, feels just like I don't try
Look so good I might die
All I know is everybody loves me
Head down, swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now
All I know is everybody loves me Everybody loves me
Everybody
Everybody, oh
Everybody
Everybody
Don't need my health
Got my name and got my wealth
Stare at the sun
Just for kicks all by myself
Lose track of time
So I might be past my prime
But I'm feeling, oh so good
Yeah
Oh my, feels just like I don't try
Look so good I might die
All I know is everybody loves me
Head down, swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now
All I know is everybody loves me
Everybody loves me
Don't you know who you are?
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody
WHOA
On the last part of the song, Arthur had slid on his knees across the stone, skidding to a halt before Merlin and the other servants. Still on his knees, he looked very proud of himself, as if that song had proven just how amazing he truly was.
"Don't forget to muck out my horses, Merlin."
Merlin, even angrier than he was before, felt the lyrics bubble up within him again and before he could stop it, he was singing.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Oh (Sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (Sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (Just a little bit)
A little respect (Just a little bit)
I get tired (Just a little bit)
Keep on tryin' (Just a little bit)
You're runnin' out of foolin' (Just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (Just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) 'spect
When you come home (Re, re, re ,re)
Or you might walk in (Respect, just a little bit)
And find out I'm gone (Just a little bit)
I got to have (Just a little bit)
A little respect (Just a little bit)
Whilst singing, Merlin and the other servants had moved forward towards Arthur and his knights, causing the King, still on the ground, to back pedal away for fear of being stepped on.
After the song was over, Merlin and Arthur stared at each other. Arthur suddenly seemed to realize what was happening to them. A look of angry confusion crossed his face before he grabbed Merlin and dragged him away to find out what in the bloody hell was happening to the people of Camelot.