Additionally, in the medieval period, there seems to linger the possibility of magic, the danger of things unseen, the prospect of daring adventure. It's not unthinkable that Rumpelstiltskin could demand his due, or that Rapunzel could unfurl her hair in lieu of a ladder, or that a frog could really be an enchanted prince. Maybe it's the inherent sense of justice in fairy tales that appeals to us all. Here, the bad get their punishment, the good are amply rewarded. And beauty must be more than skin deep.
Love lasts forever in fairy tales and withstands any number of tests.
There are adventures to be had and obstacles to be conquered, prizes to be won and character to be proven. And in the end, the main characters always live happily ever after. Fairy tales are the seed from which medieval romance is sprung, perhaps even the seed that gave birth to all of the romance genre. The themes and expectations of fairy tales have shaped romance as nothing else - and it could be argued that the most satisfying romances echo a familiar fairy tale in some way. Often the challenges they face are more complicated, the repercussions more dire, certainly they capture our hearts even more effectively than those fairy tale heroes.