Arthas : Rise of the Lich King Arthas : Rise of the Lich King is the title of a " Warcraft " novel by Christie Golden . Golden finished work on the novel in July 2008 , but the novel itself released on April 21 , 2009 . As the title suggests , the novel focuses on Arthas Menethil and his rise to the Lich King . Description . Frostmourne . It was caught in a hovering , jagged chunk of ice , the runes that ran the length of its blade glowing a cool blue . Below it was a dais of some sort , standing on a large gently raised mound that was covered in a dusting of snow . A soft light , coming from somewhere high above where the cavern was open to daylight , shone down on the runeblade . The icy prison hid some details of the sword ' s shape and form , exaggerated others . It was revealed and concealed at the same time , and all the more tempting , like a new lover imperfectly glimpsed through a gauzy curtain . Arthas knew the blade - - it was the selfsame sword he had seen in his dream when he first arrived . The sword that had not killed Invincible , but that had brought him back healed and healthy . He ' d thought it a good omen then , but now he knew it was a true sign . This was what he had come to find . This sword would change everything . Arthas stared raptly at it , his hands almost physically aching to grasp it , his fingers to wrap themselves around the hilt , his arms to feel the weapon swinging smoothly in the blow that would end Mal ' Ganis , end the torment he had visited upon the people of Lordaeron , end this lust for revenge . Drawn , he stepped forward . The uncanny elemental spirit drew its icy sword . " Turn away , before it is too late , " it intoned . His evil is legend . Lord of the undead Scourge , wielder of the runeblade Frostmourne , and enemy of the free peoples of Azeroth . The Lich King is an entity of incalculable power and unparalleled malice - - his icy soul utterly consumed by his plans to destroy all life on the . . . WORLD OF WARCRAFT But it was not always so . Long before his soul was fused with that of the orc shaman Ner ' zhul , the Lich King was Arthas Menethil , crown prince of Lordaeron and faithful paladin of the Silver Hand . When a plague of undeath threatened all that he loved , Arthas was driven to pursue an ill - fated quest for a runeblade powerful enough to save his homeland . Yet the object of his search would exact a heavy price from its new master , beginning a horrifying descent into damnation . Arthas ' s path would lead him through the arctic northern wastes toward the Frozen Throne , where he would face , at long last , the darkest of destinies . Plot . The story is set over an extensive period , and has many duplicate scenes from other works , including " Tides of Darkness " , " Beyond the Dark Portal " , " Day of the Dragon " , " Reign of Chaos " , " The Frozen Throne " and " Wrath of the Lich King " . However , while the scenes themselves remain the same , they are experienced from alternate viewpoints . The story starts off with Arthas at the age of nine , as early as the period between the First and Second War s , with Anduin Lothar and Varian Wrynn first arriving in Capital City bearing news of the fall of Stormwind . Arthas and Varian play together , though while Varian was trained to fight since childhood , Arthas was shielded from such teachings by his father . However , with Muradin Bronzebeard coming across Arthas fighting imaginary orcs while Alliance forces battle against the Horde on Draenor , Muradin volunteers to train him . Later , Arthas is caught up in Daval Prestor ' s attempt to marry Calia Menethil . The love triangle between Arthas , Jaina Proudmoore and Kael ' thas Sunstrider is developed through two and a half chapters , Arthas and Jaina partaking in the festivities of Noblegarden , the Midsummer Fire Festival , Hallow ' s End and the Feast of Winter Veil together . Later , as Arthas starts taking on the responsibilities of a prince , he visits Durnholde Keep , seeing Thrall fight other adversaries in the gladiator arena . Quel ' Thalas is visited and high elven culture depicted . Eventually , he is inducted as a Knight of the Silver Hand in the Cathedral of Light . Eventually , the Third War begins . The story covers Arthas and Jaina meeting Kel ' Thuzad , Arthas calling Uther a traitor and dismissing him and the Knights of the Silver Hand from service for their refusal to aid in the Culling of Stratholme . In time , Arthas ' search for vengeance leads him to Frostmourne , the ( apparent ) demise of Mal ' Ganis and the moments leading to and after the murder of King Terenas . The storyline continues beyond this point , to Jaina and Aegwynn in Theramore . Numerous scenes from " Wrath of the Lich King " are included along with cameos of tuskarr and taunka . Characters . Minor characters . " Note : These characters were only mentioned or had little to no role during the story . "