Disclaimer: I do not own Pern, Anne McCaffrey does. All the characters are my own.

Note: I know its short and I'm sorry. The next chapter should be up soon and will hopefully be longer!

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Chance Meeting

"And so," Holder Terrill began again, "I offer a way for you all to protect, and take pride in your ability to offer your families more of a reason to look upon you with pride. Join my army and we will tear these festering thieves from the forests!"

A swelling roar encompassed the green as hundreds upon hundreds of the holdless shouted their agreement. So much was the determination of the holdless that not a candlemark had passed after Holder Terrill's speech when lines began to form at the closest of the signup stations.

Ilona had lost sight of Margery in the bustle of the crowd. She stuck close to her parents, making sure she didn't lose sight of them; out of nowhere someone grabbed her left arm. Ilona jerked fearfully away from the person, only to find Coracon grinning at her.

"I'm going to join!" his laughed his grin and eyes were filled with boyish excitement.

"You can't join! Father would never let you." Ilona said, astonished he would leave her alone at the cothold. Coracon screwed up his face with annoyance, glaring at her. His hand clenched her arm painfully.

"Father has been babying me for too long. He let Astylar and Benton leave home when they were both fifteen turns! I disserve to be treated like an adult. You and Phalona will-"

"Will what?" Ilona snapped, trying to yank her arm away, to no avail. "We'll be stuck taking care of the entire cothold without you or Father. It's hard enough taking care of Pharen with the whole family, but you expect us to deal without your help too?!" She starred at him accusingly; he met her icy stare with one of his own.

"Ilona…I can't live on that poor excuse of a life. I wasn't meant to be a cotholder, and I won't be. Father will have to deal with that fact. You and Phalona can take care of the hold. And if it gets too hard, I bet there are plenty of people willing to work." He stopped, breathing hard, his hand tightening even more on her arm; a look of pleading on his face. "Ilona don't you see…I just can't live doing nothing anymore. I have a chance to do what I want, I'm needed. Please, if you are on my side Father will let me sign up. Please."

They stood there starring at each other, amidst a crowd of strangers. 'Father would never let him…would he?' Ilona didn't know what to do; she had always known Coracon wasn't the cotholder type. What might have been common knowledge to her might not have been noticed by her Father. Finally she let out a frustrated sigh.

"Coracon I'll side with you on thi-," she broke off, as he let go of her arm and hugged her.

Tossing her side to side, Coracon laughed. "Don't worry sister you'll be happy you said 'yes' when I save you from some thief! Oh yes you will!"

"But…BUT," she gasped, from lack of breath from his tight embrace.

Letting her go, Coracon stood in front of her smiling, his brown eyes bright with happiness and excitement. People were giving them weird looks, making Ilona blush with embarrassment at their attention.

"But what?" he asked, smiling slightly.

"You have to help me find someone willing to stay and help out. Starting right now, if we don't find someone you're not going anywhere." Ilona stood hands on hips, in a demanding pose. No way was she going to let him run off and leave all the work to her.

Coracon smiled. "Fine," he shrugged. "Let's look around. I bet there's going to be hundreds of women left alone, who might want to live with you and work! Besides we pay well." He grinned at his last comment; his carefree nature had such an effect on Ilona that she smiled. For once it felt like things might work themselves out okay for all of her family.

"Ilona! ILONA!"

Ilona turned around to see Margery dashing through the crowd. She stopped and waited impatiently. Coracon looked around and watched the girl run towards them, an annoyed look on his face.

Margery came to a halt in front of Ilona breathing heavily. She smiled politely at Coracon, and nodded to Ilona catching her breath.

"Where are…you go..ing to go…?" She gasped out weakly, looking at Ilona.

"I'm going to go home. Back to our cothold in South Bend…" She ended awkwardly, not sure what Margery wanted.

"Do you know anyone needing help? I was hoping to get into the main-" Margery was interrupted by an enthusiastic Coracon.

"Yes! You're hired!! See Ilona, you even have someone you know willing to help. By the egg what luck!" Coracon was smiling broadly at a startled Margery, who blushed after a moment. Ilona had to force herself not to kick her brother. This couldn't work. Margery was mean and self-centered; she wouldn't fit in at the farm! Ilona smiled tightly at Margery.

"It's nice to see you again…Margery?" Coracon said politely.

"Oh…uh...nice to see you Coracon" Margery smiled and blushed prettily. This annoyed Ilona to no end. No girl was allowed to flirt with her brother, especially in plain view, and hadn't Coracon thought she was rude? Ilona's dislike for Margery deepened.

"Aren't you already working for someone else?" Ilona asked, hopefully.

"Oh no, they are going back to their cothold in South Bend, as well. Cherri told me that she didn't want my help anymore…so I'm free. My parents also think it's a good idea if I get out and see the world. What better way than learning about living on a cothold in another Hold while earning marks?" Margery smiled happily at Ilona, who felt like punching her face.

"We'll first have to ask Dad, Coracon. It isn't your marks that would be paying Margery." Ilona felt triumphant as Margery's and Coracons's face fell. Father wouldn't let this girl live with them…

"Well let's go see what he'll say." Coracon said, visibly trying to put the smile back on his face, it didn't work well. With an angry nod, Ilona marched off in the direction of the wagon. Hoping her father wasn't there, that Margery would fall behind, or that her brother would stop daydreaming and live the life he was meant to live.