From "The Kingship of Arthas Menthil of Lordaeron" by Oscar Meyer. Royal Lordaeron Press, 75 ADP.
"After the assassination of his father, King Terenas Menthil, by Orc assassins sworn to Kargath Bladefist's Horde at the end of the Second War, Arthas Menethil was sworn in as King of Lordaeron. Guided by the 'wise' hand of Lord-Regent Daval Prestor Arthas withdrew Lordaeron from the Alliance of Stormwind and chose to 'Focus on internal affairs'. Unfortunately, Arthas, largely uncertain of his skills in rulership, often deferred to the counsel of his Lord-Regent, and the nation of Lordaeron began to crumble. During this time he became known as 'The Boy King', obstensibly for his youthful good looks, but more often due to his perceived inadequacy as ruler. It would not be until the Third War that Arthas Menethil would shed the moniker..."
Just a little something from my "A History of Tal'doren" Warcraft AU. I always wanted to see what an actual 'King' Arthas would look like, and using the AU as a basis the artist and I settled on this. He has a rough, rugged beard to show that while he's an adult he's still not yet a 'man' as it were. His expression is haunted, unsure. He wants to be the Good King but his self-esteem is in tatters and the ghost of his widely-beloved (especially by him) father hangs over him like a shroud figuratively. He is like a clay pot, molded and shaped, but not yet hardened in the fires of the Third War. There is a good king in there, but it needs to be released from the prison Deathwing put him in.
Art by Emily Camissa: https://linktr.ee/emilycammisa
Arthas Menthil and World of Warcraft/Warcraft belongs to Blizzard Entertainment.