- "Still the iron claw in the velvet glove, Mariel?"
- – Timov
Mariel was one of Londo Mollari's wives.
History
Londo referred to Mariel and his other wives (at least to Vir Cotto) as "Famine," "Pestilence," and "Death," stating their personalities could shatter entire planets.
Mariel was the youngest of Londo's three wives by many years. Soft spoken and beautiful, she lavished affection on Londo, but did not truly love him. She maintained numerous affairs, as Londo explained she was attracted to men of power like a moth to the flame--but she burned them.
In 2259, Emperor Turhan offered to grant Londo any one wish that he desired. He requested a divorce from the arranged marriages to his three wives: Mariel, Timov, and Daggair. One condition was presented which was to keep at least one of the wives. He invited all three of them to come to Babylon 5 so he could deliver the news personally, just before having an anniversary party for his Day of Ascension. Whereas Timov made no pretenses regarding her feeling toward Londo, Mariel did what she could to ensure she would be the one he kept.
Not willing to chance him choosing someone else, Mariel bought an old Centauri artifact from a trader in the Zocalo. Mariel realized it had been booby trapped, and she gave it to her husband at the party. The trap poisoned him, bringing him close to death. Mariel pouted and protested her innocence, though the other wives paid no attention to her.
However, Londo does recover. While he recuperates in Medlab, Mariel visits one of her lovers--none other than Londo's hated rival, G'Kar of the Narn Regime. G'Kar explains that he knows full well she not only knew the device was trapped but identified herself as the giver to throw suspicion elsewhere. He warns her Londo is likely to figure it out as well, though Mariel does not seem concerned.
Ultimately, Londo chooses to keep Timov because he always knew where he stood with her. He does offer Mariel a modest alimony as a settlement, but she will no longer be able to live the privileged life of a noble she is accustomed to.
Notes
- According to Peter David, who wrote the episode Soul Mates, Mariel corresponds to "Death."