Frederica's Journey

1659

Frederica Angelica Eliasabet Schultz was upset. Mutter had just told her that Vater had arranged a marriage for her. With Alfred Stoehl of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, no less. She couldn’t believe he would do something as atrocious as this. Vater knew Frederica was in love with Johannes Von Strubble from the castle next to theirs.

It was Frederica’s 15th year. Mutter said Vater had already arranged the wedding shortly after her 16th birthday. So Frederica had time to devise a plan to get out of the engagement. She just knew that she could not marry Alfred.

She met Alfred earlier this year at her coming-out ball. In his high heels, she still stood taller than him. He had to be at least 28 with a huge nose and old pockmark scars. He was the most unappealing-looking man, with an attitude to match. Every snide remark Alfred made was punctuated by a touch of sarcasm she had seen unmatched by anyone she knew. He looked down on everyone and had nothing good to say about anyone. He was possibly the worst person she had ever met, and the thought of having to marry him made her sick to her stomach, especially since she couldn’t help but compare him to her Johannes.

Sweet, sweet Johannes. Johannes with velvet lips and satin fingers. Beautiful, angelic Johannes with golden hair and cerulean eyes. When he held her to his broad chest, she felt safe. He made her feel like she was dancing in the clouds when they waltzed. She and Johannes had grown up together, their castles only miles apart. He was two years older than her and a good foot taller. His demeanor was as becoming as his looks.

Johannes and her would spend hours talking about when they wed. Johannes had her heart since she first met him, and he had kept her heart all these years.

When she next saw Johannes, she informed him of Vater’s decision. This upset Johannes, but he knew that Frederica was more upset. So he just held her and murmured to her that he would take care of everything for her not to worry because they would be getting married. He told her that he would handle everything.

Over the following months, Johannes asked Vater three more times to change his mind and allow him and Frederica to marry. Each time he asked, the answer was a resounding no. Johannes decided to implement his plan B and prepared a way for them out of Germany if Frederica's Vater didn't change his mind in the next few months.

Frederica, in the meantime, was begging Vater daily for him to change his mind about who she would marry. But as with Johannes, Vater would not budge. He was adamant that his only surviving daughter marry Alfred.

Frederica was beside herself with grief. It was a week before the wedding. She hadn't seen Johannes in a month. She wondered where he could have gone when she received a message to meet him by the church between their castles.

When she arrived, they embraced for a long time before he told her his plan. If she agreed to go, he had passage on a ship for both of them in the New World. However, they would have to leave tonight to be able to board in the morning before the ship set sail.

Of course, she agreed. So they parted, and Frederica went home and packed just what she had to have, plus any jewelry and valuables she possessed. She was ready to sneak out after supper.

She and Johannes met outside her family's castle gates. He helped her mount the horse he'd brought and mounted his. Then they took off for the nearest port.

Poor Frederica was so tired by morning, but she was ecstatic about being with Johannes. They finally arrived at the Maria Celeste, the ship that would take them to the New World. The First Mate showed them to their quarters.

Johannes had registered them as John and Elizabeth Lemke. Frederica had a little trouble getting used to being called by another of her given names at first, but she eventually got used to it. She had a more challenging time thinking of Johannes as John, to be honest.

They arrived at the New World in good time. The weather seemed to be for them instead of against them. When they arrived, John found a minister to marry them, and once they were married, they disappeared into the frontier.